Open Thread for Friday
El Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national celebration in Mexico. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated by Mexican-Americans and their descendants in the United States. Many cities with significant Mexican and Chicano populations throughout the US schedule special events on the 5th of May. In Los Angeles, most notably, revelers fill the streets in front of City Hall for speeches and performances by Mexican entertainers on this day.
Although the celebration of this holiday has historically been limited to Latin-American communities, particularly in the southwest, it has become increasingly popular across the country and among all ethnic groups in the last 10 years. In recent years, it has been celebrated widely and in a similar style as St. Patrick’s Day — namely a celebration and identification with Mexicans, their culture, food, and music by Anglos and other unrelated ethnic groups. However, many Americans have only a cursory understanding of the significance of this day; it is often mistakenly assumed to be Mexico’s independence day, and in practice, it is usually celebrated on a superficial level.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 5/05/2006 12:00:00 AM
14 Comments:
True--most people think it's Mexican Independence Day, which it's not.
Drinko de Mayo more like it.
Feliz Cinco de Drinko!
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellman's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico.
But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss.
Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.
Cinco de mayo is not a national holiday, much less it is rarely celebrated. This is just another marketing tool in which corporate america has taken the riegns and created a holiday for sales, using this event as a whore for their profit. So what if the mexican army defeated the french, the next day there was some major ass kicking in puebla, and then after the french left, Benito Juarez started to kill off the wealthy mexican land owners and clergy who supported the culturally enriched french. So what we have now is a slew of wetbacks with little or no culutre much less education here in the U.S.
Yes, after the seige the french killed a bunch of Mexicans. Mexicans don't celebrate that event but I bet Villaraigosa will be celebrating it all over town today.
Forget that other stuff; bring on the carne asada, cerveza and the mayo...
You are an idiot. Cinco de Mayo is only celebrated in Puebla. It is not a national holiday. It was a holiday created by the beer companies in the US.
...here's my take on Cinco de Mayo. During the late 60's and early 70's, when Chicano students were first turning up in appreciable numbers on college campuses around the country, many tried to formulate plans for some type of cultural heritage event. As it was difficult to organize something at the beginning of the year when it was most appropriate --i.e. Sept 16 -- students celebrated the much lesser known, though arguably more appealing holiday of Cinco de Mayo, which obviously occurred toward the end of the school year. After of few years of scattered celebrations, on came the beer companies, who then brought in Los Lobos (who previously had performed on college campuses) and people like Art Snyder and voila! a major marketing opportunity...errr cultural holiday was established.
oh great, lets have a glorified beer holiday in which those "chicanos" who need to take college credit courses to find out their identity. I bet not one of those so called "chicanos" know what was the first flag of Mexico? any takers?
A drink to you my friend Archie.
Happy chinko du mayo
Oh man, you gringos ARE a bunch of assholes. Wasn't aware that the French were the world bearers of culture. So what the fuck does that make Americans?
El Gringo, it would appear that some of the Mexicans I know have more culutre than you do.
Pay for Play........
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See what representation really costs....
CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 ON 05-05-06
Gilbert Cedillo for State Senate: American Bankers Insurance Co Of Florida : $3,000
CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 ON 05-04-06
Gilbert Cedillo for State Senate: California Teachers Assn For Better Citizenship
: $4,700
Gilbert Cedillo for State Senate: California Teachers Assn For Better Citizenship
: $1,000
CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 ON 04-27-06
Gilbert Cedillo for State Senate: United Teachers Los Angeles Pace : $2,000
CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 ON 04-13-06
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