The Reasons

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is considered a relatively minor holiday. It is not their version of July 4; it isn't their Independence Day.

What happened on Cinco de Mayo - May 5, 1862 - was the victory of the Mexican army over France in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. 

That war came about after Mexico, torn apart by years of internal fighting, had to default on loan payments to France, Britain, and Spain. Those three nations sent their navies to Veracruz, Mexico to settle things in the time-honored way of warfare, but Britain and Spain came to a sensible conclusion and arranged settlements with Mexico. 

Napoleon III, Emperor Of The French, saw a chance to take some Mexican territory for himself, and kept fighting, sending a large fleet and strong forces to Veracruz.

With 6,000 French soldiers and sailors on the attack, Napoleon III nonetheless saw his dreams of carving out some of Mexico as a "Little France" when 2,000 Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, sent the French packing, ending the invasion at the Battle of Puebla.

Today, the Battle of Puebla is still a cause for national celebration and pride among the Mexicans. They have parades, battle recreations, and other fiestas but May 5 is not a national holiday in Mexico. Offices, banks and stores remain open as usual.

I mention all this as a bit of historical perspective, because May 5 has become one of those holidays in the United States that is nothing more than a reason for people to throw a party.

I worked with a woman who was born and raised in Ireland. Every year, she was aghast at the way this nation turns what is considered a holy day in Ireland into a day of green-tinged decadence.

I doubt that a lot of the people who were wearing sombreros and guzzling Dos Equis the other night knew the reasons why Cinco de Mayo matters in Mexico, any more than the revelers on March 17 know why St Patrick is important in Ireland. 

I've noticed a trend to what I call "Hallmark Holidays," events promoted by the greeting card and balloon industries to sell more of their product. Why not? It's a free marketplace, and have fun, I say!

But not like this:  Maryland State Police arrested 21 impaired drivers, issued more than 700 citations and nearly 1,000 warnings during their increased enforcement last Wednesday, Cinco de Mayo.

Three people died in car wrecks on that day, and also, a state trooper investigating a crash on I-95 was almost hit by a box truck that the police say was being driven by an impaired 45-year-old driver.

I'm not trying to get all preachy. People are going to drink and misbehave even without beer, whiskey, and wine manufacturers creating silly reasons to encourage them. But maybe they could also take time to educate people about the real meaning of holidays at the same time.