The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of the Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.
from http://www.mexonline.com/cinco.htm
Â
In the Netherlands the 5th of may is a national holiday and it is called “Liberation day”. Why? On the 5th of may 1945 WWII ended according to a verbal agreement which was officially signed on the 8th of may.
The 4th of may is considered National Memorial day for all the people that died in WWII. According tradition at 20.00 two minutes of silence is honored for those who died during the war.