Jumbling his words, Obama hosts a Cinco de Mayo celebration on the eve of Mexican holiday

Obama celebrates Cinco de Mayo a day early

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is celebrating Cinco de Mayo a little early.

On the eve of the Mexican holiday, Obama on Monday had an event in the East Room of the White House with Mexico’s Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan (sahr-oo-KHAN’).

Obama joked that it was “Cinco de Cuatro,” botching a play on the Spanish word for “four” when he meant to say “Cuatro de Mayo,” or the Fourth of May. He tried again, turning back to the traditional Cinco de Mayo construction as the audience laughed.

Moving past the jumbled translation, the president assured his guests that the White House wants to be early in commemorating the holiday.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican troops’ defeat of the French on May 5, 1862, at Puebla. Obama called it a “decisive victory” that inspired a sense of pride that Mexicans feel today.