May 5 2021

Today was Cinco de Mayo, May the fifth 2021. It’s a day like any other day in much of Mexico, in the rest of North America it’s an excuse to drink Tequila and Cervezas. For the last five years, our next-door neighbours have had a party to celebrate the day. We would pack up the margarita maker and go sit in their back yard with a group of people and celebrate Mexican culture and cuisine. 

This year Cinco de Mayo was another victim of covid. No fun allowed. 

No gatherings of any size either. 

I miss social gatherings and the connection with people; strangers and friends alike. It’s funny how many different holidays and times of the year there are we have created as an excuse to gather and enjoy a wobbly pop or six. Cinco de Mayo has only become a thing in Canada for the last ten or fifteen years. It immigrated north easier than a farmworker from Manzanillo. Now it was another reason for a cervesa in the park.

Only in Puebla de Los Angeles do people celebrate May the 5th like they do in The United States and to a lesser extent in Canada. We always seem to imitate the USA, this day is no different. The history behind the day is quite interesting and connects Canada with Mexico in a deeper way than most people realize. The shared history is fighting off the French.

On May 5 1862 at a place called Puebla de Los Angeles, the Mexicans defeated the French in battle outside the town. 500 French troops lost their lives compared to less than 100 Mexican troops. It was a great victory.  It was an epic win for Mexican morale and it paved the way for the expulsion of the French troops five years later. 

In case you didn’t know, it is not Mexican independence day. It is just another day that ends in a why… Mexican independence was achieved in 1810 on September 16. Dieciséis de Septiembre doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Now in the coronaverse we have a much better chance to celebrate Mexico on the actual independence day for our neighbours way south of us. 

Cinco de Mayo was a great connection in the before times. Until covid took away our fun, it was a great day to hang out with friends and drink too much tequila. 

Even as vaccines are being distributed we have been in the grasp of the third wave of infections. So our health authorities have told us to stay home, closed all outdoor large events for the summer, and instituted more lockdown measures. In the fine province of Alberta next door to us, they have closed schools and even shut down the patios on the bars and restaurants

And this is a Conservative government closing things down. Strange days indeed. 

I hope by Canada Day we can be outdoors and gather with our friends to celebrate. I would like to see by Mexican independence day we will be able to walk around without masks.

In the meantime have a cervesa, a glass of wine, or a shot of Tequila.  Happy Cinco De Mayo.