May 5, 2023 Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo. 

What used to be another day in May has become a Canadian and American excuse for a Mexican holiday. An excellent excuse to drink Tequila and eat tacos.

And why not?

There is nothing wrong with finding a reason to party. I like Tequila and tacos, so for me, this is becoming one of my favourite celebratory days. 

But when did it become a thing? Twenty years ago I don’t remember ever having Cinco De Mayo parties. Certainly, when we were kids there was no such day. And if you ask a Mexican they will laugh and say it’s an American(or Canadian) thing. It certainly doesn’t have anything to do with Mexico’s birthday.  Mexico’s birthday is September 16, a day no one in Canada even thinks about – unless you’re a real Mexican. 

That doesn’t make it any less of a thing for my friends and I.

We went and had Tequila, some chips, salsa, and tacos with a few friends. It all tasted so very good. And the connection was even better. Today we have another Cinco de Mayo party to attend. This time we are in charge of bringing the Margaritaville machine. 

Mmmm more Tequila and tacos. Not a Mexican in sight.

That’s okay though. At least we are celebrating Mexicans and their culture. Even if it is a watered-down Canadian version. 

So why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Why don’t Mexicans? It’s not entirely true Mexicans don’t celebrate that day, some do celebrate it. But they are from the state of Peubla. It’s a day to celebrate the victory of the Mexican army over the French army on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. 

In America, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in 1846 – 1848. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s, companies began commercializing the holiday. Yet as a kid or even twenty years ago, I’d never heard of the day. 

Maybe it’s just me being late to the party.

It has everything to do with the proliferation of social media. What was once a thing a long way away in another country has become something big everywhere. The holiday has spread rapidly across the globe. And now has been commercialized like every other holiday on the planet. 

It’s certainly a lot more fun than the other event happening today: Some old white guy is getting a heavy crown plopped on his head because he was born into the right family. I’d rather drink Tequila and eat tacos.

Happy May the Fifth everyone. Enjoy som e Tequila and tacos. Most importantly enjoy connecting with your friends and family, after all that’s what really matters.