The popularity of Cinco de Mayo has been growing in the recent years, celebrating Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. But what is Cinco de Mayo?

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexico's Independence Day, which is on September 16.

Cinco de Mayo is actually the celebration of the victory of Mexican troops over the French army at the battle of Puebla in 1892. This was the first major victory by Mexico against France during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). Today, Cinco de Mayo is used to promote Mexican culture and celebrate prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States such as Cesar Chavez, the famous farmers' rights activist.

The day is usually celebrated with mexican food, margaritas, and mariachi bands.

The following infographic, created by Elite Research, provides interesting facts about Cinco de Mayo and the Mexican population in the United States. Credit: Elite Research