Well, here it is, the day several of us wait for all year. Cinco de Mayo! May the 5th! The day celebrates the Mexican army defeating the French at the Battle of Puebla on this date in 1862.
If you want to know the truth, this is NOT a very big holiday in Mexico. People of Mexican heritage living in the US tend to celebrate it as a salute to their roots, culture, and heritage, and that's cool. But the two other groups that go all out on May 5 are:
🔘 Grocers and distributors of fresh produce, because they can use the demand for limes (so essential for Margaritas) as a reason to raise the price of limes sky high.
🔘 People of whatever ethnicity who are always on the lookout for a reason to hit the bar. Columbus Day and St. Patrick's Day are also big with this crowd, whose closets at home are filled with special hats, t-shirts, and noisemakers to make the fun all the louder.
The Maryland State Police - our highway patrol - will have extra patrols on the interstates and main drags, looking for those who chug a little too much cerveza or tequila tonight.
I once had a friend ask me how to say "tequila" in Spanish. You'll probably see him tonight at happy hour at O'Hoolahan's.
Have fun but don't drive drunk!
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