Mexican Independence day is Sept. 16, but the country is celebrating its bicentennial in the shadow of escalating drug violence. Image: CC eddieq/Flickr

Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16. On Mexican Independence Day 2010, Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence. A common misconception in the U.S. is that Mexican Independence Day is May 5: Cinco de Mayo. On May 5, stories in the media abound, ranging from tequila recipes to the Battle of Puebla — the real reason Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. Sept. 16 is Mexican Independence Day because Mexico’s 10-year war for independence from Spain began on Sept. 16, 1810. Mexico has come a long way in 200 years. Yet in 2010, the country has little to celebrate as it battles corruption, human rights issues and drug violence.

Celebration in the shadow of drug violence

President Felipe Calderon is celebrating Mexican Independence Day Sept. 16 with a $40 million extravaganza in Mexico City. USA Today reports that the two-day bicentennial bash features laser shows, fireworks and music. The Mexican government hopes the party will lift the people’s spirits despite a recession and bloody war against narcoterrorists. Security is tight amid fears that drug cartels will attack the festivities. Two years ago, narcoterrorists threw grenades into the crowd during a Mexican Independence Day festival in the city of Morelia. Seven people were killed and 132 were wounded. Since a military campaign on Mexican drug cartels began in December 2006, more than 22,000 people have died in drug violence, according to the Reforma  newspaper.

Most Mexicans resigned over bicentennial

As Mexico prepares for the traditional “grito,” or shout-out of “Viva Mexico!” on Wednesday night, the country’s historians, politicians and artists agree that the country may be in deep trouble. The Washington Post reports that Mexicans are still reeling from the massacre of 72 illegal migrants from Central and South America in northern Mexico last month. Mexico’s top immigration official resigned this week over the killings. In a poll published last week in Reforma, 67 percent of Mexico City residents said they felt little or no excitement about the bicentennial. Nearly six in 10 said the money spent is being wasted. Anonymous e-mails are urging Mexicans not to participate in the government-sponsored celebrations. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, defeated by Calderon in a disputed 2006 election, will host his own celebration a few blocks away from Calderon’s. Public events in other cities have been canceled or scaled back, over fears of narcoterrorism.

And now the good news

Even though U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said last week that Mexico resembles the drug-racked Colombia of 20 years ago, the news isn’t all bad. The Associated Press reports that over all, Mexico’s murder rate is 14 per 100,000, far below the average for Latin America. Upper-middle class Mexicans are much like their American neighbors, with iPhones, modern apartments, higher education and smaller families. Strong grass-roots movements deal with issues like crime, human rights and the environment that were unheard of 25 years ago. In the aftermath of the worst recession since the 1930s, Mexico has stable government finances. There is also a genuinely independent and accountable Supreme Court.

The Battle of Puebla wasn't the only significant event on May 5. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Indeed, May 5 is Cinco De Mayo, but believe it or not, there have been a lot of very significant events that took place on May 5 throughout history.  Any holiday has some historical significant event that took place, but some of these are real big ones.  The seeds of the French Revolution and two English civil wars (count ‘em) all are connected to May 5, believe it or not. You won’t even need to get personal loans to learn this stuff at some school, and you can be the know-it-all of Cinco de Mayo parties.

May 5, 1215: First Baron’s War

There wasn’t a huge historic occurrence on May 5, 1215 – aside from King John (the one from Robin Hood) giving a castle back to the Archbishop of Canterbury.  That said, it was the beginning of the First Baron’s War, during which the king was forced to sign the Magna Carta. It restrained the power of the king, but most importantly, established the principle of Habeus Corpus.

May 5 1640: The Short Parliament

King Charles 1 of England was not popular. His spending and taxes were outrageous, and he wanted more money to go to war with Scotland. He convened Parliament on April 13, 1640, to get it.  Parliament wasn’t amused.  On May 5, after 3 weeks of deliberation, he ordered Parliament dissolved. He reconvened Parliament later that year after going bankrupt, needing a bailout. That was called the Long Parliament, who also weren’t amused.  Armed conflicts started to break out, and King Charles was beheaded in 1649.  A monarch wasn’t restored until 1660, under limited powers.

May 5, 1789: The Estates General

The Estates General was a French representative body.  It was meant to represent the Three Estates: clergy, nobility, and everyone else. The King of France, Louis the 16th, convened the Estates General for the first time in more than 100 years to see about getting more money, as spending and taxes were out of control. Just like the Short Parliament, they wouldn’t comply, and the French Revolution was set to begin. Oddly enough, on May 5, 1821, 32 years later to the day, Napoleon Bonaparte the 1st died in exile on the island of St. Helena.

May 5 1862: The Battle of Puebla

As we all know, May 5 1862 was the Battle of Peubla, as Mexican forces under Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin defeated the army of Napoleon III. It was essential in establishing the independence of Mexico from European powers. That is the basis of Cinco De Mayo. Great strides toward independence and fair rule were made on May 5 many times over the centuries.

The Battle of Puebla is the true occasion for Cinco de Mayo rather than Mexican Independence Day, but Americans should celebrate just the same. Flickr photo.

The Battle of Puebla, which occurred on Cinco De Mayo, has been co-opted by corporate America as a marketing opportunity to sell tequila and Mexican-style food. Americans have been conditioned to believe that May 5  is Mexican Independence Day, and celebrate by taking shots and eating enchiladas. But in a way May 5 is more about debt repair than drinking cocktails. Mexicans in the state of Puebla celebrate Cinco de Mayo history as the date of the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Out-manned and outgunned, Mexican forces defeated a French army sent by Napoleon III. The Battle of Puebla has become a symbol of freedom and liberty for Mexicans.

Battle of Puebla history

If Americans really knew about the Battle of Puebla history, they would be celebrating Cinco de Mayo by expressing gratitude toward Mexico, instead of wearing funny hats and speaking Spanglish. Mexican Independence Day is not May 5, but September 16 — the day Mexico’s 10-year Independence War with Spain started in 1810.

The truth about the Battle of Puebla

Fast forward to the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo in 1862, The United States was in the middle of its Civil War. Mexico had been celebrating Mexican Independence day since 1810. But the country was still broke after a war with the United States in 1848, when it lost California and New Mexico (a vast territory that now includes Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah). The Mexican government owed France a ton of money. France thought the United States, with its expanding territory and military, was a threat. Napoleon III saw the Civil War as an opportunity to defuse that threat.

Battle of Puebla background

The Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, occurred because Napoleon III of France sent troops to Mexico under the ruse of collecting the debt. What he really wanted to do is defeat the Mexicans and have a force in place to aid the Army of the Confederacy. By ensuring that the United States would be split in two, Napoleon believed that France could hold sway over two weakened nations in North America, instead of having to deal with a single powerful one.

French defeated at Battle of Puebla

The Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo 1862 pitted a ragtag Mexican force against the French Army, considered the baddest military force in the world at the time. Puebla was attacked by 6,000 French troops led by a cocky general who had no respect for the Mexicans. Not only did the Mexicans stand their ground, they chased the French all the way to the coast and defeated them.

Cinco de Mayo: reason to celebrate

The French weren’t completely ousted from Mexico until 1867, but the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo was pivotal in preserving Mexican independence. The French Army’s defeat at the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo in 1862 also prevented Napoleon III from aiding the Confederates. The Mexican army may have played a key role in helping Abraham Lincoln win the civil war and preserve the Union. A deed worthy of a toast when Americans knock back the tequila on Cinco de Mayo.

Sources: pbs.org, wikipedia.com

Which margarita recipe are you going to use to fill that glass? Image from Wikimedia commons.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo – and getting the perfect margarita recipe can be just the first step. The right cocktail margarita recipe is cool, refreshing and very tasty. But what if that margarita recipe isn’t quite your style? Not to worry, the perfect margarita recipe doesn’t have to mean quick loans for expensive tequila or a recipe for a hangover. Whichever margarita recipe you decide to make, you can celebrate the freshness and flavors of Margaritaville easily.

Traditional Tequila margarita recipe

While there are at least eight different “origin stories” for the margarita recipe, the basics stay pretty much the same. According to the International Bartenders Association, the perfect margarita recipe uses a 7:4:3 ratio of just three ingredients: 50 percent tequila, 29 percent triple sec, and 21 percent fresh lime juice. Many margarita recipe mixes use limeade instead of lime juice, making the drink much sweeter. Usually, the margarita recipe also includes rimming a glass with salt or sugar to help cut the tequila. Sweet or not, a margarita can be served on the rocks over ice, blended with ice, or straight up without ice.

Virgin margarita recipe

If you want a margarita recipe you can enjoy all day in the office, look no further. The basic flavors of a margarita recipe – lime, sugar, salt and a bit of kick – are possible without the tequila. A virgin margarita recipe usually includes: 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup limeade or the juice of one lime, and a few sprinkles of salt. Serve over ice, and toast to margarita recipes all day!

Pizza Margarita recipe

Though it was originally spelled Pizza Margherita, a Pizza Margarita recipe is now a standard in many high-end pizza parlors. The strong flavors and smooth mozzarella make this margarita a perfect match for your cocktails. Grilled or baked in the oven, a pizza margarita recipe is usually basic and simple. On a thin pizza crust, layer olive oil, minced garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves and lots of fresh sliced tomatoes. Bake or grill until bubbly, hot and tasty.

A May 5 Margaritaville celebration doesn’t have to mean just booze. Combine margarita recipes of every type, and you’re sure to have a party that will please everyone.

Cinco de Mayo is all about the fiesta. Does that make Jan Brewer and la migra nervous? (Photo: Flickr)

Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) is a happy day celebrated across the United States and Mexico (primarily in the Puebla state) with song, dance, good food and even better beer, margaritas and tequila. Per Wikipedia, the fiesta celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. While not a federal holiday, Cinco de Mayo is wildly popular, particularly in the U.S. where Mexican-Americans take time to celebrate their Mexican heritage in a (mostly) family-friendly atmosphere.

Cinco de Mayo protest: an equal opportunity event

Rumors are circulating that Cinco de Mayo 2010 won’t be quite as family-friendly for the people of Arizona. Thanks to the new Arizona immigration law, a large Cinco de Mayo protest may be brewing, aimed at Gov. Jan Brewer. At the state capital on Cinco de Mayo, a political rally to end all political rallies is allegedly being planned. Payloan stores may have to lock their doors. The rally may even include Arizona police officers who are worried that the Arizona immigration law has provisions that could subject police departments to lawsuit if they do not enforce the law “strictly,” says Rumor Miller.

Speakers from both side of the Arizona immigration law aisle are slated for participation in the Cinco de Mayo protest, including political figures like Tom Tancredo, Marry Matlin, Roland Martin, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. In addition, some A-list celebrities may be there, including Salma Hayek, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Carlos Mencia and Perez Hilton. Hilton will, of course, be blogging the event. Potential attendees are being encouraged to wear green, white and red to show their support of what is supposedly “in clear violation of the principles of the U.S.” That supposedly solid assertion about Arizona immigration law is actually very much up for debate.

Don’t worry, Cinco de Mayo fans: It could be worse

In an alternate universe where parody sites like The Spoof report news, we see that Governor Jan Brewer has revealed that Arizona will no longer celebrate Cinco de Mayo. There will be no parades, block parties, low-rider hydraulics contests, “Eva Longoria-Parker lookalike pageants,” margarita fests, “frijole fandangos,” weddings or anything else that could vaguely fall on the wrong side of la migra. Gov. Jan Brewer is spreading some tough love and will not be swayed by the namby-pamby antics of an Obama, Hillary Clinton, belly-dancing Shakira or Los Lonely Boys. No, Jan Brewer is going to see this thing through, claims The Spoof. Speedy Gonzalez and Slow Poke Rodriguez will officially be replaced by Rapid Reginald and Moseying Mike.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gail/ / CC BY-ND 2.0)

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