Cinco De Mayo is actually American?

rm33064
rm33064 Posts: 270 Member
in Chit-Chat
I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?

Replies

  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    Lotta people knew >.>
  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    It commemorates the Battle of Puebla. Mexicans fought (and defeated) the French. It's not American, per se, but is really only observed so enthusiastically north of the border.

    Who cares? Half price margaritas and fajitas are a good thing!
  • HerkMeOff
    HerkMeOff Posts: 1,002 Member
    Lotta people knew >.>

    This.
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
    It commemorates the Battle of Puebla. Mexicans fought (and defeated) the French.

    It's not American, per se, but is really only observed so enthusiastically north of the border.

    Who cares? Half price margaritas and fajitas are a good thing!

    Yup. I'm Mexican. It's a national holiday, but a "soft" one - gets moved to suit a long weekend. Unlike May 1st (labour day is very important), Sep. 16, or Nov. 20.

    The ironic (or historically appropriate, if you will) is that the French eventually won that war handily.

    If you know many Mexicans you'll eventually realize that pretty much any excuse is good for a party...
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    It's Mexican, but celebrated more in America (by Mexican Americans and other Americans alike now). It celebrates the Mexican army's defeat of Napolean III and his army.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?
    Not true. It was declared a national holiday in Mexico by President Juarez in 1862 to commemorate the Battle of Puebla. It's not currently a national holiday, similar to how the US used to celebrate "Victory Over Japan Day," but no longer does (except Rhode Island.)
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,706 Member
    It commemorates the Battle of Puebla. Mexicans fought (and defeated) the French.

    It's not American, per se, but is really only observed so enthusiastically north of the border.

    Who cares? Half price margaritas and fajitas are a good thing!

    Yup. I'm Mexican. It's a national holiday, but a "soft" one - gets moved to suit a long weekend. Unlike May 1st (labour day is very important), Sep. 16, or Nov. 20.

    The ironic (or historically appropriate, if you will) is that the French eventually won that war handily.

    If you know many Mexicans you'll eventually realize that pretty much any excuse is good for a party...

    Except there are no parties here on Cinco de Mayo. It is only a " soft " holiday in the sense that children don't have to go to school, but parents work, banks and post office as well as other government offices were open today and except a short commemoration ceremony in Puebla there was nothing going on in regard to Cinco de Mayo.
    Many parents are actually unhappy that kids have off, because it causes problems with child care for those parents who work.
    I am asked what parties I go to, or what I cook for this " special " day ( meaning usually Mexican Independence day ) each and every year by someone living abroad and they don't quite understand when I answer, that I plan nothing, because I still have over four month until Independence Day....lol.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Do we really need that much of an excuse to drink tequila? Really?
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?
    Not true. It was declared a national holiday in Mexico by President Juarez in 1862 to commemorate the Battle of Puebla. It's not currently a national holiday, similar to how the US used to celebrate "Victory Over Japan Day," but no longer does (except Rhode Island.)

    It is true that it was declared a holiday in 1862 ( the year of the battle ) but that does not automatically mean that it is an official federal holiday now.
    Each country has holidays in their history that are no longer celebrated or official and maybe just get a mention in the daily news. Cinco de Mayo is one of those days for us here in Mexico. I saw the news at 7 am and it got a maybe 45 second mention and now during the 8pm news it was not mentioned at all.
  • rm33064
    rm33064 Posts: 270 Member
    Lotta people knew >.>

    This.

    Leave me alone Herky. Go troll someone else...
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?

    because they are delicious.

    The puebla people are right. It is not considered a big deal and is not the actual independance day. Who cares though. It's at a great time of the year to be outdoors and celebrate all the latin people. At least that's how it goes down most places I know.

    Today, I celebrated by eating French Onion soup. I DEFEATED that shet. I consider it a battle won!
  • Ilikelamps
    Ilikelamps Posts: 482 Member
    Canadians just think of it as the 5th day of mayonnaise
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?
    Not true. It was declared a national holiday in Mexico by President Juarez in 1862 to commemorate the Battle of Puebla. It's not currently a national holiday, similar to how the US used to celebrate "Victory Over Japan Day," but no longer does (except Rhode Island.)

    It is true that it was declared a holiday in 1862 ( the year of the battle ) but that does not automatically mean that it is an official federal holiday now.
    Each country has holidays in their history that are no longer celebrated or official and maybe just get a mention in the daily news. Cinco de Mayo is one of those days for us here in Mexico. I saw the news at 7 am and it got a maybe 45 second mention and now during the 8pm news it was not mentioned at all.

    brittany-actually-taking-notes.gif
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I always thought it was Mexico's Independence Day. Turns out that's September 16th. Cinco De Mayo originated with Mexican Americans living in the west during our civil war. Who knew? Still not sure why we go out to eat tacos and get hammered on coronas and margaritas. Any ideas?
    Not true. It was declared a national holiday in Mexico by President Juarez in 1862 to commemorate the Battle of Puebla. It's not currently a national holiday, similar to how the US used to celebrate "Victory Over Japan Day," but no longer does (except Rhode Island.)

    It is true that it was declared a holiday in 1862 ( the year of the battle ) but that does not automatically mean that it is an official federal holiday now.
    Each country has holidays in their history that are no longer celebrated or official and maybe just get a mention in the daily news. Cinco de Mayo is one of those days for us here in Mexico. I saw the news at 7 am and it got a maybe 45 second mention and now during the 8pm news it was not mentioned at all.
    Yes, that would explain the sentence in my post where i stated "It's not currently a national holiday..." and then gave an example of a holiday in the United States that is no longer celebrated to illustrate that point.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    Canadians just think of it as the 5th day of mayonnaise

    Oh you!
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    From Canada all the way to the tippy toes of Chile is "America"
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    From Canada all the way to the tippy toes of Chile is "America"

    Unless you're in certain parts of Texas Chili doesn't have toes . . .
  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    Actually, I've heard it said Cinco de Mayo is also a pretty big deal in Mexico locally, by which I mean in the state of Puebla, even if the rest of Mexico doesn't really care.
    Do we really need that much of an excuse to drink tequila? Really?
    I would need a gun to my head to drink tequila.

    ETA:
    The ironic (or historically appropriate, if you will) is that the French eventually won that war handily.
    That's kind of debatable, actually. Even so just the fact that Mexico managed to defend its territory against what was, at the time, the 2nd or 3rd world power is enough to make it a moral victory (if not a military one), kind of like the 1812 war for the US.
  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    From Canada all the way to the tippy toes of Chile is "America"

    Ugh, this nitpick is so pretentious. You know what OP meant. If it bugs everyone to call the United States "America" and things from here "American" then we are going to need to come up with a new demonym for people who are US citizens. United Statians? Because I don't know if anyone has told you, but currently the term for someone of our nationality is, in fact, "American."
    /rant off.
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    From Canada all the way to the tippy toes of Chile is "America"

    Ugh, this nitpick is so pretentious. You know what OP meant. If it bugs everyone to call the United States "America" and things from here "American" then we are going to need to come up with a new demonym for people who are US citizens. United Statians? Because I don't know if anyone has told you, but currently the term for someone of our nationality is, in fact, "American."
    /rant off.

    Whoa! Didn't mean it as nit-picky. I just meant that regardless of actual country of origin, the OP was going to end up being correct. Thought the "tippy toe" wording conveyed my light hearted intent.

    Also, I have never been accused of being pretentious. That one actually made me giggle. :laugh:

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