Happy Cinco De Mayo!

[JQ Public]

To any of y'all who celebrate...hope you're having a good holiday. Here's a little more about it.

Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Althought the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indescriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.

In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.

In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.

[Amanzi]

Thanks for the History JQ
Happy Cinco De Mayo! Now all I need to do is find my sombrero:)

[mf_dolphin]

Big party day here in Tampa for sure

[bfez1]

Margarita on the rocks---no salt, please
And pls pass the chips and salsa.

[MScoast]

I'll have what bfez is having But I want salt!

[Guest]

No Margarita for me - but I'll have a few chips and green sauce.

[Lindaloo]

Hey the day of drinking!! lol. If it were on a Friday or Saturday night this year I would be celebrating the all day all night drinking party. lol.

I was wished Happy Cinco De Mayo this morning when I went to the vet's office this morning. I may look Mexican, but I am truly Choctaw Indian. lol. The girl at my vet's office is Mexican though so I wished her greetings back.

[ColdFront77]

JQ, thank you for the history of "Cinco de Mayo."

On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

I was born 116 years later, to the day. 8)

[pojo]

Strawberry Margarita for me too

Ladies...we should celebrate in the bar tonight! (and the men whom would like to have a little fun!)

[cycloneye]

Happy cinco de mayo to all the mexicans.

[Southernmost Weather]

JQ, thanks for posting the info about Cinco de Mayo. Having lived in Arizona and having been in the news business, we always had to explain the significance of the day to our listeners and readers--that it was not a drinking holiday. That's something the liquor companies came up with to boost sales during an otherwise slow time. It tended to get rather frustrating. But, I will enjoy an adult beverage in any event!

[azskyman]

My sons both have come to appreciate Cinco de Mayo...they are always looking for a great party and have never come up short on May 5th with their friends.

In fact, where is Jarrod? He's usually stopping by the house by now!

[JQ Public]

No problem guys. Glad to be of service. Lol i used to get that alot too linda...about being Mexican that is. Then i'd say indian and they'd say "o feathers?" And i'd say "no red dot". Hehe jk, but it was always confusing when there weren't many of us back in the day in raleigh.

[breeze]

LoL, JQ!

Hey - drinks on the House!

(*Wait - I'm not in the Ladie's Bar, am I?) :o

[ColdFront77]

Cinco de Mayo has also had at least two severe weather events... and two days before it in 1999-- on "Tres de Mayo."

Here we go "off topic" in the "off topic forum"... ----> Harry, I always loved listening to WBZ NewsRadio 1030-Boston when I lived in southeastern Massachusetts. It is my favorite radio station. I like listening to the latest news of the day, weather, traffic and sports; even without my driver's license and not being an avid sports fan. I haven't listened to the Orlando news/talk station (AM 580-WDBO) too much.