A Brief History of Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo in the White House
While President Obama celebrated Cinco de Mayo at the White House a day early — alongside the Mexican ambassador — he'll have to put in a few more years if he wants to rival George W. Bush, probably the most dedicated Cinco de Mayo fan to ever hold the presidency. Bush held annual May 5 celebrations in the Rose Garden with mariachi bands and sombreros galore, even referring to the venue as the "Jardin de Rosa" in 2005.

• A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day