Cinco de Mayo celebrations have become popular here in America, and are a great marketing ploy for restaurants and bars. Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for (The "5th of May"). After all, who doesn't love a good party regardless of the occasion. I must confess in that my 20's, I celebrated many a Cinco de Mayo with some Margaretta and Corona specials (and the occasional shot of Tequila). In all of that time, I never really understood the significance of the Mexican Holiday. The Wikipedia defines Cinco de Mayo as "The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride." I was surprised to learn that it is not an official Mexican Federal Holiday, and that a common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day. With our growing Mexican immigrant population, (both legal and illegal) the celebration has weaved itself into our American culture. This speaks to the many blessings of our great Country that we readily embrace the traditions of other cultures which become threads in the fabric of our Nation. After all, they don't celebrate the fourth of July in Mexico.
Monday, May 5, 2008
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