Don’t get excited. I didn’t say it was Mexican Independence Day. I know that is el diez y seis de septiembre, September 16 to us gringos.
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is actually a much lesser holiday celebrating the victory of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. For Mexican-Americans it has become a celebration of their glorious culture but for most Americans of any other ethnic background, the battle is one of 365 daily reasons to go to a bar and drink (366 reasons during Leap Year).
But El Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of independence. I have a solar-powered spinning globe on my bookshelf inscribed May 5th, 2017, the day I retired. The last day I dressed for work, got reported to HR for insensitivity (moi?), worried about a monthly profit objective or sucked up to a boss (other than Linda, of course).
Yes, I am bragging. “In your face!” Margaritas anyone?