Cinco de Mayo
HRinNH
1,432 Posts
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 05-05-05 AT 09:23AM (CST)[/font][br][br]I am NOT a history buff but I can speak some Spanish; so in order to get some appreciation for the 5 de Mayo celebrations going on at our local Margaritas Restaurant and Watering Hole, I did a web search and came across the following information. [u][url]http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm[/url][/u]
I quote:
"Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.
So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.
The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.
Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.
The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did.
Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.
Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.
It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?
In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.
Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!"
Ole'
I quote:
"Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.
So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.
The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.
Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.
The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did.
Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.
Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.
It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?
In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.
Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!"
Ole'
Comments
On this date, as HRinNH pointed-out, Mexico delcared it's independence. It is customary for the president to appear around midnight on a balcony and recite the following to the masses who have been drinking, partying, etc for the past day or so:
“Viva la democracia y la libertad, viva la concordia y la solidaridad, viva la unidad de los Mexicanos, viva la Patria, viva México”
Which translates to (roughly):
"Long live democarcy and liberty, solidarity and harmony, long live the unity of Mexicans, long live the homeland, long live Mexico!"
As soon as the last word is spoken, the crowd goes absolutely wild. You can feel it in your bones. Then, the entire party resumes. Picture a block party, except the block comprises an entire city of 9.5 million people.
Gene
Edit:
Sorry, I forgot to add that the speech the president makes, is the same one that was made by Miguel Hidalgo in San Miguel Allende on September 16, 1810.
The tradition is also carried out in every town and municiplaity throughout Mexico, be it by the president, the mayor, town chief, or self proclaimed jefe.
I'm having mucho margaritas for dinner tonight...
I've been in search of the best margarita for a few years...I've had a few now...but one that ranks right up there with Jimmy's is the watermelon margaritas at Texas Roadhouse restaurants...ooooooh my....almost as good as Applebee's Blonde brownies!
There use to be a restaurant/bar/club locally that had banana margaritas that came in a glass as big as your face...ya know a two hander drink...lordy...I consumed many of those...in my younger days.
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/party5.gif[/IMG]
#1 thing a consultant shouldn't say: "I could tell you the answer right now, but we're committed to a three month project..." #-o
Hey, G, are you still meeting us in San Diego in a couple of weeks? East meets West...what a trip!
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/alc.gif[/IMG]
#1 thing a consultant shouldn't say: "I could tell you the answer right now, but we're committed to a three month project..." #-o
There are exceptions - the most notable being "el problema" meaning I guess that problems are primarily a female thing. Remember, this is just a GRAMMAR LESSON.
1-Go to a reputable purveyor of fine spirits.
2-Ask for a bottle of Patron Silver tequila. Expect to pay about $75 per bottle.
3-Go home and indulge in the best tequila known to mankind. Well, almost. The best stuff is usually not sold in the market, but rather saved by the distiller as "reserva de familia" or "family reserve" and given to the family, friends, politicians or anyone else who needs a "mordida" (bribe) x}>
Be afraid, very afraid of stuff like Jose Cuervo or Sauza. This stuff is garbage. It is 2nd rate tequila that gets blended at a 51/49 ratio in the states with grain alcohol.
Gene
I think you may be referring to step 12 where "having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
We don't preach or pontificate. It is a program based on attraction rather than promotion. Also, you'll never hear one of us make a diagnosis.
So, to answer your question, yes, this friend of Bill advocates drinking to excess if it's not a problem in your life. My daughter is allergic to orange juice, but the rest of us sure as hell drink it!
If you were just a wee bit closer to the Volunteer State I would take you out for a bucket of Corona's and some ostiones crudos con limon y tabasco (raw oysters with lime juice and tabasco). Mineral water for me:)
Gene
Cheryl C.