PROFILE AMERICA–WEDNESDAY, MAY 5^TH.

     TODAY’S DATE IN SPANISH IS “CINCO DE MAYO,” AND CELEBRATIONS WILL BE HELD IN MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITS ORIGIN GOES BACK TO 1862, WHEN MEXICAN TROOPS DEFEATED THE THREE-TIMES LARGER INVADING FRENCH FORCES OF NAPOLEAN THE THIRD.

     THE OBSERVANCE HAS EVOLVED FROM ONE OF MILITARY VICTORY TO A COLORFUL CULTURAL EVENT, BOTH IN MEXICO AND AMONG THE 21-MILLION AMERICANS OF MEXICAN DESCENT IN THE U.S.

     ONE OF THE BIGGEST FESTIVALS WILL BE ON THE WATERFRONT IN PORTLAND, OREGON, WHERE 300-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY FOR ENTERTAINMENT, DANCING, AND ETHNIC FOODS, HELD AGAINST A BACKDROP OF VIBRANT COLORS AND MUSIC.

     YOU CAN FIND THESE AND MORE FACTS ABOUT AMERICA FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ON THE WEB AT CENSUS-DOT-GOV.