OXFORD – On Friday, May 5, from 5-7 p.m., the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) of Fort Hill Post #376 will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) with a special Mexican dinner from 5-7 p.m. Take-outs available only from 4-5 p.m. This is not just a dinner, it’s a Mexican “fiesta” and you’re invited to have a delicious, “festivo” meal, listen to Mexican folk and mariachi music, participate in raffles, and enjoy very colorful decorations, all while supporting the educational and charitable ALA missions.

For those who don’t know, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). It commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French in 1862. The win helped Mexico establish a sense of national unity and patriotism. It also helped the United States because if the French had won, they planned to use Mexico as a base to help the Confederates win their battle against the United States during the Civil War.