Editing Fiestas Patrias (Mexico) (section)

==Confusion regarding Cinco de mayo==
Contrary to common misconception in the U.S.,<ref>{{cite web|author=Lauren Effron|publisher=Discovery News|title=Cinco de Mayo:NOT Mexico's Independence Day|date=2010-05-10|access-date=2010-09-16|url=http://news.discovery.com/history/cinco-de-mayo-not-mexicos-independence-day.html|quote=Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexico's independence day.|archive-date=2012-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321055147/http://news.discovery.com/history/cinco-de-mayo-not-mexicos-independence-day.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Julia Leyton|title=How Cinco de Mayo Works|publisher=HowStuffWorks.com | date=2003-04-26|access-date=2010-09-16|url=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/cinco-de-mayo.htm|quote=Lots of us have heard of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, but not everyone knows what it celebrates. It is not, as some believe, Mexico's Independence Day. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Sombrero, Fiesta coloring page|url=http://printables4kids.com/cinco-de-mayo-coloring-page/|access-date=2010-09-16|quote=Get ready for the Fiesta! Print out our original coloring page for your Cinco de Mayo (also known as Mexican Independence Day) celebration and color the Mexican flag, a sombrero, maracas, a pinata and more!}}</ref>
''[[Cinco de mayo]]'' is not Mexico's "Independence Day", but rather commemorates the victory of Mexican Republican forces over [[France|French]] forces in the first [[Battle of Puebla]] on May 5, 1862. In the battle fought there the following year the French forces were the victor.

In contrast to Independence Day, described above, ''Cinco de mayo'' is observed mostly at a local level in Puebla State and is a minor Bank Holiday in the rest of Mexico. Many labor unions have negotiated to have the day off, however, since its proximity to Labor Day (May 1) often allows an extended five-day weekend or two consecutive three-day weekends. The first observance of Cinco de Mayo was in Los Angeles, California, in 1863. The observance sought to boost the spirits of American and Mexican residents during the dark days of the American Civil War and the Franco-Mexican War. Puebla would not hold its own celebrations until after the French were driven out of the city a few years later. See: Hayes-Bautista, Dr. David E. El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition. Berkeley, University of California Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-520-27212-5.