Cinco de Mayo – what a drag
I just got back from a trip to Mexico and yes – I was in Mexico for Cinco de Mayo.
I wasn’t thinking when I made my plans and it was an accident that my trip coincided with Cinco de Mayo. I was extremely excited when I realized what I did, but also very nervous. I was worried that I would get stuck in traffic, miss my flight home, or not be able to do anything because of the wild insanity and obvious reverie that would hit the streets.
It turns out that I am an ill-informed gringo fool.
As soon as I arrived I asked my hosts if I needed to worry about the upcoming holiday. “What holiday?” They said. “What holiday?” I thought to myself, “You sweet naïve people. Have you forgotten all about your day of national independence?”
I prodded, “Surely you are aware that Saturday is Cinco de Mayo.”
“Cinco de Mayo?” They discussed it amongst themselves. “Oh right, Cinco de Mayo, doesn’t that have something to do with the French?”
French?
“When were the French ever in Mexico?” I thought. “Don’t they realize they speak Spanish?”
Later that night I was giving a talk. I asked the audience about Cinco de Mayo. Their response was the same – first confusion and then talk about the French.
Everywhere I went and with everyone I met, I asked about Cinco de Mayo. It became a big joke, “Silly gringo, ha ha ha, Cinco de Mayo, ha ha ha.” Cinco de Mayo means nothing in Mexico.
I think I was lied to. I was an American in Mexico for Cinco de Mayo, I was excited and nervous, and it is all a big nothing.
It turns out that Mexicans don’t eat burritos* either – what a bummer.
*Burritos are a Tex-Mex treat – from Texas.
May 6th, 2007 General, Time Travel
4 Comments Add your own
1. Jonathan | May 8th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Loved your blogg! Don’t be too hard on your self, very few foreigners even heard about 5 de mayo, not even French. Here’s a n interesting fact: the French actually invaded Mexico twice. The second time, because we stopped paying the foreign debt (the 5 de mayo was just one battle won by Mexican troops, before being squashed by more French troops). Now, the interesting thing is that the first invasion was partially because some Mexican officers ate some cakes in a French restaurant and refused to pay the bill. Therefore, it is known until today as “la guerra de los pasteles” (the war of cakes) . Apparently those French have issues with cakes, remember Marie Antoinette infamous phrase: “Let them eat cake”?
2. Ruth | May 8th, 2007 at 10:40 am
What?
3. tzvi | May 8th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Thanks Jonathan - I always knew that cake was bad. I don’t trust it, and especially when the French get hold of it…. though I do like croissants, they are very yummie indeed.
In the post above I linked to a site detailing the history of Mexico and specifically Cinco de Mayo - oh well, I guess we should celebrate September 15 instead…….
4. Ruth | May 13th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Why not celebrate the 5th of November? “Remember, remember the 5th of November”. Bonfires with an effigy of Guy, jacket potatoes, hot dogs…what a blissful childhood it was in England!
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