Right-off the bat, I had to find an image that had the correct combination of offensiveness and fun. Did I ever find the image I was looking for. It seems to be tequila worm in typical mustache and sombrero joyfully playing his maracas. Probably to the beat of a ranchera, with a shining gold tooth to boot . The image was “borrowed” from the home page of thirtyoneclub.com, a night club site that was advertising an upcoming Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) party on the Eight of May (bonus irony is always the best!). Now that we got that out of the way hear this: “Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day!”
Every year on this day I get the same comment/question: “So today is Mexican Independence Day huh?” I proceed by adjusting my sombrero, strum my mustache while smiling politely and preparing to whack said person in the face with my [insert stereotypical Mexican ware here]. Choices include, bottle of tequila, maracas, guitar, tamales, beans, burritos and let’s throw chiclets in there what the heck. Nah, not really. Violence shouldn’t be used in that situation, instead I’ll begin redirecting people to this article.
In a quick pinch, what Cinco de Mayo is really all about:
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a voluntarily-observed holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Segu?.It is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla and in the United States. While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.
Yes contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. That falls on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo was just an unlikely battle that the Mexicans won over the French. So you say, “Um hello! We live in America, why should we be concerned about a foreign holiday?” First off, because as a member living in the greatest and most informed country in the world. There should be no excuse for ignorance other than utter laziness. Second, because there is a slight possibility you might insult someone. It really boils down to my first reason. There are way too many uninformed people in this country and if we’re to keep our supremacy over the world, we need to know a thing or two about it.
While some people truly celebrate Mexican heritage on Cinco de Mayo, it has really become just another commercialized holiday. Suffering the same fate as St.Patrick’s day. Its another excuse to sell alcohol and have “fiestas.” Don’t get me wrong, that is very good for the economy and all that. But let’s call it for what it is, if there is anything we do better in this country than anyone else is make a culture marketable.
Now what did we learn today, if anything? All together now, that Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day!