Americas obsession: taking over Cinco de mayo
Americas obsession: taking over Cinco de mayo
May fifth, 1862. The day Mexico beat the French in the Battle of Puebla. A simple battle among the thousands in our worlds history, yet Americans, who didn't have any involvement in the battle, for some reason are obsessed with it. Especially advertisers, mainly beer and alcoholic companies use this date as a way to show off their new beverage or show what a great party drink it is. While South of the border, Mexicans pretty much treat this date as any typical day because its not that grand of an event in their history worth celebrating. No one really knows when this whole American fascination began nor how it started, yet at some point in time it began getting acknowledged as a drinking holiday in the Americas. As a Mexican American, I'm somewhat torn as to if this is a holiday worth celebrating, while my American family decides to go out to a laid back dinner to celebrate this moment, my family in Mexico simply do not care about this. As one family member put it, it would be the same as Mexicans celebrating the Battle of Gettysburg. It doesn't really make sense, its sort of just weird and out of place to celebrate. American companies on the other hand is another story, they openly take advantage of what is supposed to be a 'a battle in the books date' to a "Let's go to a bar tonight and party!". Major companies especially Corona and Jose Cuervo, have specific ad labels for this holiday as a way to reach out to their audience that are shopping for the holiday festivities, by trying to show that "This beer is the perfect holiday drink."
May fifth, 1862. The day Mexico beat the French in the Battle of Puebla. A simple battle among the thousands in our worlds history, yet Americans, who didn't have any involvement in the battle, for some reason are obsessed with it. Especially advertisers, mainly beer and alcoholic companies use this date as a way to show off their new beverage or show what a great party drink it is. While South of the border, Mexicans pretty much treat this date as any typical day because its not that grand of an event in their history worth celebrating. No one really knows when this whole American fascination began nor how it started, yet at some point in time it began getting acknowledged as a drinking holiday in the Americas. As a Mexican American, I'm somewhat torn as to if this is a holiday worth celebrating, while my American family decides to go out to a laid back dinner to celebrate this moment, my family in Mexico simply do not care about this. As one family member put it, it would be the same as Mexicans celebrating the Battle of Gettysburg. It doesn't really make sense, its sort of just weird and out of place to celebrate. American companies on the other hand is another story, they openly take advantage of what is supposed to be a 'a battle in the books date' to a "Let's go to a bar tonight and party!". Major companies especially Corona and Jose Cuervo, have specific ad labels for this holiday as a way to reach out to their audience that are shopping for the holiday festivities, by trying to show that "This beer is the perfect holiday drink."
I agree with the feeling of being torn between both families and not knowing how to quite feel about Cinco de Mayo. I also agree with the fact that beer companies have mainly taken over the day as a reason for celebration and partying. I also think that many people don't know the true meaning behind this day and it should be more made aware of.
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