Posted on 04/26/2018 10:47:18 AM PDT by cll
Around this time every year, Cinco de Mayo promotions start popping up around the United States, and regrettably now, in many parts of the world. Except the Spanish-heritage world, of course.
What? Isn't Cinco de Mayo THE top, all-Hispanic-culture-encompassing "holiday"? Why, it is also around this time that my Spanish-heritage brethren (aka, Hispanics, or the loathsome label, Latinos) start getting Cinco de Mayo greetings from Anglos and others, and start posting their absurd and often hilarious experiences on social media for the enjoyment of us spiks. A Puerto Rican U.S. Air Force Major being designated as the base's Cinco de Mayo celebrations coordinator. A Cuban doctor being brought Mexican-themed gifts by his Anglo patients. Bars promoting Chihuahua dog races. In all, a total hispandering fest.
When this started to become a thing, back in the 90s, I guess, I asked my Puerto Rican wife - who had lived in Mexico for five years - what was the big deal with Cinco de Mayo, wasn't Mexican Independence Day on some other date? She had no clue, so she started calling friends in Mexico who told her that it was something they observed in Puebla, something to do with a French invasion.
So it turns out, that Cinco de Mayo is a minor observance in Mexico, not even a real holiday, commemorating the Battle of Puebla which virtually no one outside of that city had heard about.
How did this footnote in Mexican history became a symbol for all Spanish-heritage peoples in the U.S.? The hell do we know. I think it has to do in part due to the idiocy of pigeon-holing all "Hispanics" within a Mexican framework, in the false narrative that all of us of Spanish heritage are a homogeneous demography. In part also due to how gullible the general public is to marketing campaigns who cleverly invent gimmicks such as these to sell lousy beer.
What's more incredible, though, is how governments and other public institutions fall for these ploys also, to the extent of making this day an official holiday or celebration, and wasting taxpayer dollars in observing this, the other made-up holiday.
So, a word to the wise for my Anglo, African, Far Eastern, Irish, German, Scandinavian, Italian, and other hyphenated American friends: do us a favor and if you encounter a Hispanic/Latino/Puerto Rican/Cuban and other non-Mexican, Spanish-heritage person, DO NOT wish him a Happy Cinco de Mayo if you don't want him to give you a puzzled look, as a minimum, or even laugh at your face.
And yes, no self-respecting Mexican that I know would even drink Corona. At all.
Chinga Mexico.
Budweiser Holiday
One could sing La Marseillaise on Cinco de Mayo.
I’m looking forward to May 4th myself.
May the 4th be with you!!!
The other kwanzaa ... hilarious!
Cinco de Mayo is mostly an American thing. Mexicans aren’t all that interested in it.
Best movie to commemorate the 5th is Two Mules For Sister Sara.
If Sammy Davis,Jr.,had to choose, would,it be Kwaanza, Chanuchah, or Chawaanzichaa?
A that just for defeating the French?
My grandmother could defeat the French.
Kind of like us celebrating the 12th of February because Arsenio Hall was born that day.....I’ve always considered Cinco de Mayo to be just another way for the Mexicans to spit in our face....
And unlike Kweenza, it is based in a real event.
Which is why General Pershing fought the French in Mexico. Before joining them in Europe.
Ustedes están calientes.
Most likely Corona Beer commercials started this nonsense.
I play in a bridge tournament and the finale party is on May 5th.
I’ll be wearing my U.S. BORDER PATROL hat.
And you as well!
Whoops shoulda read your whole post, you got the Corona connection.
Good flick
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