For Mexicans, Cinco de Mayo is really no big deal, a federal holiday spent much the way Americans would spend President's Day. It is not, as many American's believe, Mexican Independence Day. It is a holiday marking the victory of an outnumbered ragtag Mexican army over the well-trained invading French forces in the Battle of Puebla. It is a true story of an underdog's triumph.
I'd like to say that Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo because we love a good underdog story. After all, our own American Revolution was fought and won against all odds by an army made up of mostly farmers fighting for a dream of independence. However, most Americans don't know the story of the Battle of Puebla.
Instead, Cinco de Mayo has become a misunderstood holiday in the U.S., but nonetheless, a great time to celebrate Mexican customs and heritage, just as St. Patrick's Day brings out the Irish in everyone. In cities all across the U.S., there are grand fiestas with all the ado I expected to find in Mexico. People celebrate with tacos and tequila, mariachi bands and dancing, carnivals and parades. In short, if we'd really wanted to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we should have gone to San Diego.
We did, however, celebrate a Thursday off work with a group from the consulate. Without a taco or mariachi band in sight, we had a poolside cookout, and Jacob and Benjy got to swim for as long as they could stand the chilly water. Andrew curled up his toes at the thought of a cold swim, and I was pardoned from being the only adult parading around in a swimsuit. It was a fun day, but far from the hullabaloo I'd expected.
At least in North Carolina, my niece and nephew got their birthday presents just in time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style.
Love it, love it! And I want a taco!
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