Cinco de Mayo

A common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not just like Mexican Fourth of July. Mexican Independence Day is September 16th, so what is May 5th all about? On May 5th, 1862, the Mexican forces in Puebla won an unlikely victory against the invading French forces, turning them back...briefly, but it was a symbolic victory that the people of the state of Puebla still cherish and celebrate annually. However, even here in Mexico City, where there are massive numbers of people from all 31 states, especially from neighbor to the east, Puebla, nothing is done to celebrate (and this is the 150th anniversary - the sesquicentennial - so you would think something).

Is it ironic that a holiday that is so associated with Mexico in the United States is only celebrated in 1/31 of the country, or just weird? What is a great excuse to drink Mexican beer in the United States is also just a great reason to drink Mexican beer here, as well. Even the PubliMetro (the free newspaper in DF) said as much, writing that May is a month full of holidays, the month when mothers (Mother's Day), workers (Labor Day), and borrachos, or drunks, (Cinco de Mayo)  get to celebrate.

While I myself don't drink, I suppose that beer is probably a part of a culture and cuisine as much as any other drink, like horchata or tepache. Tecate, Sol, XX, Indio, Modelo and Corona are the big brands down here, and I hear that Mexican beer is the cheapest of all beers over there, so enjoy a Mexican beer today and celebrate the defeat of the French (in one battle) in Puebla. Viva!