In the United States, the fifth of May, or Cinco de Mayo, is cause to break out the tequila and dip into bowls brimming with fresh salsa and guacamole. In Mexico, however, the holiday has little to do with margaritas or mariachi musicians. In fact, one of the few places in Mexico where you’ll find any partygoers is in Puebla, where the day commemorates the battle in which the Mexican army defeated French forces that occupied this small village after the Mexican-American War. Although victory tasted sweet, it was short-lived.

Nevertheless, Mexican-Americans who populated the American southwest at the time adopted the day to honor their native culture and heritage. Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in communities of all ethnicities across the globe with parades, traditional music and dance and, of course, sensational, spicy foods.