Happy Cinco De Mayo, people!
In the United States, Cinco De Mayo (which translates to ‘the fifth of May’) is celebrated widely by consuming copious amounts of alcohol, specifically tequila. But in a larger sense, Mexican culture is also at the heart of most American celebrations on the fifth as we typically eat their famous foods, listen to their music, and even celebrate with famous dance moves from their country.
However, in Mexico, the day is celebrated by holding military parades and appreciating the services of military personnel. While both countries celebrate the holiday in different ways, the real story is incredibly inspiring.
The holiday was put in place to commemorate Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza, who led the countries army to an unlikely victory over the French war machine during the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Of course, was all brought on by the French occupation of Mexico during the aftermath of the Mexican/American War of 1846.
In the end, Mexico fended off a French invasion that outnumbered their men 2-1, all while establishing a new level of Mexican patriotism. Since then, no country in North America has been invaded by a European force.
So, yes, a day that commemorates a historical battle of incredible significance in Mexico, that shows off how much pride Mexicans should have in their country is celebrated in the United States by people drinking a million margaritas and wearing sombreros. Not exactly the same thing, I would say.
But hey, if Mexico wants to celebrate the Fourth of July the way we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, then I’d say they’ve earned that right. They can dress up like idiot Americans and have a ton of fun at our expense. That sounds like a fair trade.
Cinco de Mayo 2018 Memes: Funny Photos, Best Jokes & Pictures
