Today in History: Cinco de Mayo

Today is Cinco de Mayo, or the 5th of May.

Even though most of us know it as a day to get completely trashed, it is actually a day to commemorate the Mexican victory against the French army at the Battle of Puebla.  The holiday is largely celebrated in the United States and vague parts of Mexico.  Also contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.  That day is September 16.

Following several wars in the mid 1860s, Mexico declared that it would not pay its foreign debts until the country could get back on its feet.  Britain and Spain were able to negotiate and were satisfied, but France got pissed and sent an 8000 man army to occupy Mexico.  The French army at that time was undefeated and considered the best trained army in the world.

They won the first few battles, but they encountered strong resistance near Puebla.  Four-thousand ill-equipped, poor Mexican soldiers whooped the French.  The French retreated and returned with 30,000 troops.  They occupied Mexico for three years until the Civil War in the United States was over.  The Americans sent troops to help drive the French out.  Since then, no European force has invaded any country in the Americas.

What does that have to do with drinking?  Absolutely nothing, but in 2005 a proclamation was issued in the United States calling on the people to mark the event with appropriate events and celebrations.  Many celebrations include baile folklorico and mariachi demonstrations, as well as events to educate people on Mexican culture and heritage.  Strangely, there are more Cinco de Mayo events in the United States than there are in Mexico.  Most Mexicans living in Mexico don’t particularly celebrate the day.

There are other countries that have Cinco de Mayo events, including an air guitar contest in the Cayman Islands and a skydiving event in Vancouver.

You didn’t know before and now you do.

Stupid People Encounters #2

Yesterday, I went to the Amish market to do my shopping.  I was waiting in line at the produce stand when an older woman came up next to me.  She was being helped by one of the Amish girls.  The woman was a white lady in her 40s, and she was looking at two different displays of strawberries.

The Amish girl explained that they came from different farms.  One farm was in North Carolina and the other farm was local, in Pennsylvania.  The Pennsylvania strawberries were about fifty cents more expensive than the North Carolina strawberries.

The woman looked very confused at this simple explanation.  She said, “What’s the difference?”  The Amish girl explained again, very carefully.  “These are from North Carolina.  These are local organic from Pennsylvania.”  The woman looked at me and then shrugged.

“You said these are from North Carolina?”  She pointed to the North Carolina strawberries.  The Amish girl nodded.

The woman turned to me again and said, “That’s not in Mexico, is it?  Because I don’t want anything from Mexico.”

I didn’t say anything because I wanted to laugh.  Last time I checked North Carolina was not, nor has ever been, a part of Mexico.  I know that there are a small handful of people who do not know their 50 states, but North Carolina?  That’s one of the 13 original colonies.  How can you forget that one?  And then assume it’s somewhere in Mexico.

The Amish and Mennonite girls that work in the Dutch market have Pennsylvania Dutch accents, not Spanish accents.  They are all corn-fed white girls.  They don’t look Spanish in the slightest.  I am not sure how this woman came up with Mexico.  I tried to wrack my brain as to where she may have come up with Mexico.  I don’t even think the Amish market sells anything from any Spanish speaking country, unlike regular grocery stores that import produce from Chile or Mexico or someplace.  But whatever.

The Amish girl did not respond to the woman’s stupid question.  (Whatever they are being taught at home, it’s perfect because they never, ever get rude or roll their eyes or anything at the stupid comments I’ve heard made to them.)  The woman ended up getting the North Carolina strawberries because they were cheaper than the local organic ones.

Where do these people come from?