jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This is a bit late, but I saw it late.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

For those who don't know, Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) celebrates a victory by a small Mexican Army over a larger French force when Napoleon III invaded Mexico while the US was engaged in the Civil War and could not enforce the Monroe Doctrine. It is generally a minor thing in Mexico but Mexican Americans use it like Irish Americans use St Patrick's Day as an ethnic pride day.
I spent 30 of my teaching years in schools in East Los Angeles and Cinco de Mayo was a big deal. The students were really into it.
One year on May 5 I arrived early and replaced the calendar in the front of the room with a poster board with 5 of the little mayonnaise packets from a burger joint mounted. All day I did an opening activity that required students to put a full header on their paper, including the date and subject for the one page paper they were to write. Most kids knew the date of course but they still looked at the calendar because I put up bulletins and the day's activity schedule with subject to write about on the cork board with it. In every class a few kids got the joke but one or two always asked what happened to the calendar.

And that Monroe Doctrine thing. In the summer of 1865 the US Army moved a large force to the Rio Grande River and Navy units started patrolling in the Gulf of Mexico to prevent French reinforcements. Brought surplus weapons & ammunition and passed them across the river to President Benito Juárez's forces which were still holding out in the deserts of Northern Mexico. They also allowed/encouraged former Confederate soldiers and others to volunteer to serve in the Mexican forces. By 1867 the French were defeated without the need for US Forces to get directly involved in the fighting.

machia Loc: NJ

Your history lesson was timely. I just thought about this the other day; “What is Cinco de Mayo?”
Thank you, very interesting.

dpfoto Loc: Cape Coral, FL

Few people have come to know the “true” story of the origin of Sinko de Mayo. It is my pleasure to set the record straight.
A little-known fact is that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York.
The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5 and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

machia Loc: NJ

machia Loc: NJ

Lol, old joke, still enjoy it😃

merrytexan Loc: georgia

Lol...good one!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Over my 20 yrs of visiting and living in MX I never once saw a celebration of any kind on Cinco de Mayo

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice, Robert. Now, the difference between St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo. On St. Paddy's day, everyone wants to be Irish.
--Bob

Althefarmer Loc: Somerset, Ky

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paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

And why are the businesses pushing the day on us. Do we, should we really care? Hate be negative but almost all country have some day they want to celebrate but they never celebrate our 4th of July.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

Well, let them celebrate whatever they will. It ain't no skin off my teeth. As for me, I am an American. Cinco de Mayo means nothing to me and never will.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

It is a little different in the south western USA that was Spanish/ Mexican territory and has a very large population that swings into the USA custom of finding a day to party - I for one do not hold it against the many immigrants who have not grasp the true meaning of the 4th of July - I have a few of these Federal holidays that don't gather much thought but then there is St.Patty's Day as my grand father was a McGuire - 6 ft red headed reformed cattle rustler from Kansas.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Cinco de Mayo is used by Mexican Americans the same way Irish Americans use St Patrick's Day, Italian Americans use Columbus Day (but that one is coming under PC fire) and German Americans often do up October Fest
A day to celebrate their history and ethnic pride without using a political themed day like Mexican Independence Day which is September 16.
In East Los Angeles and other Mexican American neighborhoods they also do up "Día del Maestro" (Day of the Teacher) in a big way. The Jr High I taught at for 15 years the school day for students started late and the PTA+other parents came in before school, took over the cafeteria and cooked and served a traditional Mexican Breakfast for all the teachers and each teacher got a coffee cup or glass with Dia del Maestro and the year on them. They were filled with candy, pens and pencils. One or two got broken over the years but most of them are in our cabinets right now - the ones for 92 and 94 I gave to the two younger kids since those are the years they were born.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

But here in the Southwest, the BUSINESSES seem to want us to celebrate with them like it is one of our National Holidays and I would be surprised if they did not push to put it on the calendar. Besides St. Patricks Day is a religious holiday where there is no religion associated with Cinco De Mayo. Can your national pride be bought for a souvenir cup.