Americans Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Confuse Mexicans

A substantial portion of Anglo Americans work up this morning with headaches from overindulgence in tequila and Mexican beer. Yesterday was May Fifth, which has been transformed into Cinco de Mayo in the United States. It is a day to celebrate the culture of America's next door neighbor, the United States of Mexico, in much the way March 17 celebrates the culture of Ireland (not very seriously). However, in Mexico, the day isn't much outside of the city of Puebla. Needless to say, the event confuses many Mexicans in the US.

Mr. Bush, a Texan, hosted a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Wednesday, saying that he likes the holiday because it gives him a chance to practice his Spanish. One might have thought he could do that by talking to the leader any of the 20 nations where Spanish is the official language. However, he did acknowledge a problem. "My only problem this year is I scheduled the dinner on Cuatro de Mayo. Next year, I'm going to have to work on my math." The White House affair was a rather sober one, though, compared to celebrations elsewhere in the US.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that from 1999 to 2004, an average of 43% of all highway fatalities on May 5 through May 6 were caused by drivers with 0.08% or higher blood alcohol content. And this year, Cazadores Tequila decided to launch two products in the US to coincide with the holiday. Yes, indeed, quite a party. Too bad the yanquis don't know why they're drinking Dos Equis instead of Miller (apart from Dos Equis Dark being a vastly superior brew).

So, a quick history lesson -- during the US Civil War, French Emperor Napoleon III decided to re-establish a French influence in North America. He put Emperor Maximilian I on the Mexican throne and propped him up with French troops. Not surprisingly, the Mexicans weren't all that pleased, what with them not speaking French and not having had a throne of their own since the Spaniards were forced out. On May 5, 1862, a Mexican army beat the bejesus out of the French occupiers of the City of Puebla (where there really are celebrations for local reasons).

So, that explains the 2-for-1 margaritas at TGI Fridays. Professor Ismael "Mayo" de la Rocha, a professor of history at Cal State, Channel Islands, said, "It's become a big party, used by promotions, Cinco de Mayo sales, this and that. I think it's been polluted." He's right, but then, look what's become of Christmas. For the record, Mexican Independence Day is September 16. Party on.


© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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