While most Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with their favorite margarita and cerveza, a sobering military event is being held in Mexico City Thursday with President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Spanish for fifth of May, Cinco De Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862, not its Independence Day which is September 16.

white people on Cinco De Mayo vs every other day pic.twitter.com/CJy8nGQf0K — Alcoholic (@Alcohoilic) May 5, 2016

The French invaded Mexico after the country defaulted on its debt to several European nations.

At the time considered the best army in the world, the French lost the Battle of Puebla to Mexico, an event which set in motion the idea that the different factions of Mexico could unite under one flag.

Thousands of children dance in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Puebla, Mexico. Burt Glinn. 1962. pic.twitter.com/KgAEVgJIIQ — Magnum Photos (@MagnumPhotos) May 5, 2016

Cinco de mayo with the homies today :) #tbt #cristalismissing #melindaismissing #homies #cincodemayo A photo posted by Selene Gomez (@seleneg03) on May 5, 2016 at 1:11pm PDT

Today, Cinco De Mayo is mainly celebrated in the state of Puebla, with smaller celebrations around the country.

#cincodemayoparade #stocktonca A video posted by @dahomieharv on May 1, 2016 at 12:09pm PDT

The biggest party is up in the former Mexican city of Los Angeles, California with 500,000 people attending the multi-day Fiesta Broadway, a Cinco De Mayo celebration covering 36 blocks of the city.

Cory's tacos #cincodemayo #tacos #food #foodporn #mexican A photo posted by Heather Evans (@teacup_dino) on May 5, 2016 at 1:12pm PDT