This time, the celebration corresponds to Cinco de Mayo, which is NOT the country’s Independence Day. On May 5, 1862, Mexico defeated Emperor Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Guadalupe in the central state of Puebla. The confusion about Independence Day began at a university in California, where a professor wanted to teach his students about Mexican Independence so he chose May 5th, a date when his students would not be on summer vacation. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 when we will have another party.  Now you know. Let’s party!