Cinco de Mayo is a very popular holiday in the US, but many people have no idea what it exactly it celebrates. Aside from tacos, beer and great music it celebrates the Battle of Puebla , where the Mexican Army claimed victory over the French in 1862, when the French tried to set up an Outpost in Puebla after losing the Louisiana Purchase. It’s actually not Mexican Independence Day; that came on September 16, 1810 and is celebrated in Mexico like we celebrate the 4th of July. Cinco de Mayo is actually only celebrated in Puebla Mexico to commemorate the battle and is not a national holiday. The US celebrates as a way to honor Mexican culture and heritage. I celebrate it in memory of my mom.
My mom. One of the strongest women I have ever known. She was beautiful, inside and out. Life of the party and the queen of throwing parties. Dang, that woman could throw parties! Each and everyone EPIC. If there was ANY occasion, she could turn it into an event. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Superbowl, our weddings, 4th of July, engagements, graduations, confirmations, baptisms, Halloween, baby showers, housewarmings, New Years Eve, any sports play offs, a random Thursday, St Pats, Valentines Day, Memorial Day, birthdays and Cinco de Mayo. It was a tie between Christmas and the 4th of July for her favorites. I think Cinco de Mayo she liked just because it was a celebration with beer!
Each party had a theme and over the top decorations, menus, themed serving trays, music and people. Lots and lots of people. It wasn’t unusual for her to have over 200 people at the 4th of July parties. She created an environment that was so welcoming with a sense of casual elegance, no detail was missed. When I say no detail… she had themed toilet paper in each bathroom, changed out all the candy in the dishes in the house to match, she always wore a themed sweatshirt and if she knew you liked to drink something special, she would always have it just for you. She loved to see people having fun. It filled her cup.
The planning of these extraordinary parties took weeks and enlisted us kids, close friends and dad to produce. She planned and orchestrated, my dad and brother did all the yard work, heavy lifting and setting up the tables, Mom did ALL the cooking, my sister, sister in law, close friends and I helped in the kitchen. Once the party began, we were like a finely tuned wait staff filling sternos, bringing out more food, consolidating and cleaning up as we went. My brother and his friend were in charge of garbage, ice and a full blown fireworks display. Dad worked on the music with speakers blaring the Star Spangled Banner. There were people everywhere! The party had fishing, boats, baggo, bubbles for the kids, hula hoop contests and so much more. There was no way you couldn’t have a great time. I know this is where my sister and I get our ability to entertain, it was engrained in us from a very young age. People still talk about her parties. I miss her parties. I miss her.
The last party huge party my mom was about to throw was her famous St Pat’s party when she suffered a massive stroke in the parking lot of Sam’s Club on the way to get corned beef and all the fixings. Ironic, right? That was in March of 2004 and we were blessed to have her with us until May of 2018, May 5th actually – Cinco de Mayo. She was wheelchair bound and although the massive parties ended, her love of parties never did. Parties became intimate with family and a few friends. We all pitched in to celebrate on a much smaller scale. Those parties were never any less epic.
I truly believe that my mom made a deal with God to go to heaven on Cinco de Mayo so we would forever and always party on her day. So while I do love me some tacos and a good margarita on Cinco de Mayo, I am extremely grateful to those who fought and won the Battle of Puebla. It gave us a reason to celebrate. In my own mind, I see it as the world coming together to raise a beer to my mom. She always loved a good party.
Enjoy your Cinco de Mayo,
K