Posted on 04/26/2018 10:47:18 AM PDT by cll
Around this time every year, Cinco de Mayo promotions start popping up around the United States, and regrettably now, in many parts of the world. Except the Spanish-heritage world, of course.
What? Isn't Cinco de Mayo THE top, all-Hispanic-culture-encompassing "holiday"? Why, it is also around this time that my Spanish-heritage brethren (aka, Hispanics, or the loathsome label, Latinos) start getting Cinco de Mayo greetings from Anglos and others, and start posting their absurd and often hilarious experiences on social media for the enjoyment of us spiks. A Puerto Rican U.S. Air Force Major being designated as the base's Cinco de Mayo celebrations coordinator. A Cuban doctor being brought Mexican-themed gifts by his Anglo patients. Bars promoting Chihuahua dog races. In all, a total hispandering fest.
When this started to become a thing, back in the 90s, I guess, I asked my Puerto Rican wife - who had lived in Mexico for five years - what was the big deal with Cinco de Mayo, wasn't Mexican Independence Day on some other date? She had no clue, so she started calling friends in Mexico who told her that it was something they observed in Puebla, something to do with a French invasion.
So it turns out, that Cinco de Mayo is a minor observance in Mexico, not even a real holiday, commemorating the Battle of Puebla which virtually no one outside of that city had heard about.
How did this footnote in Mexican history became a symbol for all Spanish-heritage peoples in the U.S.? The hell do we know. I think it has to do in part due to the idiocy of pigeon-holing all "Hispanics" within a Mexican framework, in the false narrative that all of us of Spanish heritage are a homogeneous demography. In part also due to how gullible the general public is to marketing campaigns who cleverly invent gimmicks such as these to sell lousy beer.
What's more incredible, though, is how governments and other public institutions fall for these ploys also, to the extent of making this day an official holiday or celebration, and wasting taxpayer dollars in observing this, the other made-up holiday.
So, a word to the wise for my Anglo, African, Far Eastern, Irish, German, Scandinavian, Italian, and other hyphenated American friends: do us a favor and if you encounter a Hispanic/Latino/Puerto Rican/Cuban and other non-Mexican, Spanish-heritage person, DO NOT wish him a Happy Cinco de Mayo if you don't want him to give you a puzzled look, as a minimum, or even laugh at your face.
And yes, no self-respecting Mexican that I know would even drink Corona. At all.
If you drink the whole thing, you will feel it.
We need the bourbon manufacturers to work toward making Kentucky Derby day our national early-May drinking holiday.
I heard that Cinco de Mayo was invented by some Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles so they would not feel homesick so much. That’s why most of Mexico doesn’t get excited about the holiday.
Actually it’s not 100% fake like “Kwaanzzaaa” BS.
It’s more like 100% trumped-up (LOL).
Local holiday, not nearly anything even nationally recognized. Except maybe now since PC illegal-loving anti-Americans starting pumping it up to celebrate Mexican-ness over American-ness.
It’s always about tearing down America - don’t believe anything else.
BTW, I will be celebrating Derby Day that very day alot more than any Illegal Mexican shenanigans.
(Nevermind my graveyard group has its annual conference that day, also. Oh, and BTW - our pathetic liberal leader of the group mentioned worrying about meeting on that date why? Because of “cinco de Mayo”! PC Idiot. Give me a break! “Hey - nobody gives a !#@$!@#%$ about CdM nor should they!”)
I tend to resent the big deal made of may 5 when July 4th is neglected in the same community. I care about AMERICAN independence, not Mexican independence.
Celebrating Mexican heritage on 5\5 makes as much sense as celebrating Japanese culture on 12\7. The may have won a victory that day, but the war that followed ended catastrophically for them.
Mexicans haven’t a clue what Cinco de Quatro is all about, all they know is that just like for everyone else it’s an excuse to get drunk on their asses.
Good grief. It’s a fun day to party and drink. I believe it started by the beer companies. It was brilliant. We have a party every year and none of us are Hispanic.
You can’t be that stupid! Please tell me you are not an idiot. Please!!!!
A couple people have given the essence of the story. I’m just filling in.
The U.S. won the Mexican-American War, but treated Mexico fairly. Instead of simply taking the northern states of Mexico, we paid Mexico an indemnity of $15 million. Whoever heard of the victorious country paying the defeated country after a war?
We justified annexing the northern states of Mexico because of the right of self-determination. Those states (Texas, New Mexico and California) choose to join us. Well, maybe the people of the northern part of California. And, maybe the money recognized that there were some disputed regions. Plus, any citizen of Mexico residing in the northern states could become a citizen of the U.S., retaining all their rights and their property. But, anybody who wanted to remain a citizen of Mexico could sell their property and move south.
So, at the time the French invaded Mexico - during our civil war - there were many Mexican-Americans. In keeping with the Monroe Doctrine, they thought we should defend Mexico from the invaders. Like I said, this was during our civil war, so we weren’t able, at the time, to defend Mexico. Come the end of the war, President Andrew Johnson sent General Sherman with an army of 50,000 battle-hardened troops to the border, and told the French to get the hell out of Mexico. Which the French army immediately proceeded to do. The French-installed “Emperor” of Mexico refused to leave. This is my country, he said, I believe in French. The patriots of Mexico arrested him, lined him up against a wall, and shot him.
This is the origins of Cinco de Mayo. It began as a celebration of a minor battle in Pueblo, Mexico, with the expectation that the new country of the Mexican-Americans would fulfill the terms of the Monroe Doctrine and defend its sister American republic.
Another grand excuse to hoist a pint.
It was invented in Los Angeles, CA as a way to have a Mexican Holiday similar to 4th of July to encourage festivals and all that money spending that goes with it.
Pure BS
Not liking mayo, I’ve never been able to get into this Cinco de Mayo business.
Now there's an idea. On May 5th, everyone should wear their "MAGA" hats, go into a bar, and order a shot of AMERICAN Bourbon. Better yet, do it at the bar of a Mexican restaurant.
Of course, in piss-ant cities around the Bay Area, you'd probably get arrested for making the non-legal "guests" feel uncomfortable.
There should be more drinking holidays!
1. Seijin Shiki: Coming of Age Day (Japan 2nd Monday of January) Saki!
2. Lunar New Year (China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam February 3rd of February) China had beer in prerecorded history!
3. Mardis Gras (Fat Tuesday! Sometime in March anywhere
fat drunks live!
4. Emancipation Day (African-American, United States)
Get splifficated.
5. Cinco de Mayo Stay Thirsty My Friends!
6. Juneteenth I don’t know... Cheers!
7. July 1 – Canada Day (Canada) Do it again July 4th
8. August is so darn hot...
9. 9/22 Autumnal Equinox so why not?
10. Can’t you figure this one out on your own?
11. Pick something! Bottoms up!
12. Kwanza! The other Cinco de Mayo.
OK Einstein - explain why I’m so stupid for dissing Cinco de Mayo .....
Too easy. You said that Mexicans use cincoo de mayo to spit in our face when they don’t celebrate it one bit. It’s an American holiday exclusively. Not sure where you got your ignorant information from but it was dumb!!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.