Today we celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” in Dallas, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Your favorite Mexican restaurant will be all dressed up and ready to serve a delicious round of nachos, enchiladas and beer. “It sells a lot of beer” as my Filipino friend who owns a Mexican restaurant likes to boast. He doesn’t really know anything about “Cinco de Mayo” but the sound of the register makes him happy. So, what’s the big deal about “Cinco de Mayo”? Why is everyone so happy and festive?
Allan Wall, who lived in Mexico, wrote a good summary for those of us who are not Mexican or studied Mexican history in school. Here it is so read it before your beer & nachos: