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 Does the date of May 5 commemorate Mexican Independence as
is widely believed? Was there some kind of mass exodus to the
US on this date many years ago? Is it the celebration of the
introduction of mayonnaise to the Mexican people? No matter
really since the day has ultimately lost its true meaning to
the throngs of plastic sombrero wearing, Corona guzzling partiers.
The truth is that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of
the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle of Puebla
on May 5, 1862. Initially it was a regional holiday celebrated
only in the Mexican state of Puebla.
Eventually it spread to other parts of Mexico and those
U.S. cities with significant Mexican populations. Over time
it found its way into all corners of the US, especially college
campuses, and tragically evolved into just another excuse
for a bender but with a twist of lime or a rim of salt.
Never one to give in to the expected, I found myself sitting
in the Russian Samovar (256 W 52nd St. NYC) sipping vodka and
debating religion, politics, culture and more with my new friend
Amy. I half expected to see the bar revving up the blenders
and breaking out the Tequila for rounds of frozen concoctions.
Thankfully this did not happen.
Amy and I rambled on about this and that. Some subjects were
deep and important like a viable immigration policy in the
US. Others were considerably less serious like deciphering
the difference between fame and infamy in today’s celebrity.
All the while not a thought crossed my mind regarding France’s
desire to expand its empire and collect on debts owed by Mexico.
Or how Napoleon's relative Archduke Maximilian of Austria was
placed as ruler when loan payments ceased. I completely forgot
how England and Spain turned tail and pulled out leaving the
Mexican people on their own.
By the fourth carafe of my special lemon/cranberry vodka,
I was ashamed of my lack of concern over the French encountering
resistance at Loreto and Guadalupe. Lost were the memories
of the 4,500 poorly armed men lead into battle by Mexican General
Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin and the near miraculous victory over
the well-outfitted and highly trained French army of 6,500
soldiers.
The final sip of my final drink came with no regard to this
glorious victory, which at the time helped to develop a needed
sense of Mexican national unity. Was that insensitive
of me? Well no, it’s
not my heritage after all. Then again it’s not the heritage
of most of those barely staggering about streets at the end
of the night.
See Also:
www.russiansamovar.com
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