The "True" Story of Cinco de Mayo...at last

From: <[email protected]>

TO:  STUDENTS  OF CULTURE/POPULAR CULTURE
Subj:    5th of May is Cinco de Mayo--A Mexican Holiday!  Two versions of
      history

Tomorrow, Mexicans celebrate CINCO DE MAYO (Fifth of  May).  Many Americans
think that Cinco de Mayo is the  celebration of Mexican Independence,
perhaps due to the joy and excitement of  the celebrations around the
United States and Mexico.  (Prof. Alvar Carlson, a noted cultural
geographer at Bowling Green U  in  Ohio, has done a study of the spatial
dimensions of these celebrations, mapping  the U.S. cities and towns where
the holiday is observed.   A contemporary resident of thearea, David Brye ,
can embellish on the information to follow.  He even guides tours to the
battle site,  a hilly area with woods which is now a preserve for picnics
and  recreation.)

Those of us who attended the Puebla meetings of PCA/ACA  as part of the
International Congresses at the University of the  Americas know that the
city of Puebla features prominently in the original Cinco  de Mayo event.
French troops landed at Vera Cruz and moved toward Mexico  City in the
Spring of 1864.  France was taking advantage of the United States'
preoccupation with a Civil War to collect debts from Mexico in a very
direct and Parisian manner.

General Zaragosa  (whose name may sound familiar due to the region of
Zaragosa in Spain, near Barcelona) put together a troop of beautiful young
waitresses from the cantinas of  Puebla.  Later known as  '"the Zaragosa
girls," these young ladies were selected for what the General  called
"pulchritudinata," or special Latin beauty.  Capacious wagons went out to
the towns of Chilula, Puebla, and the villages at the base of El Popo, the
local volcano--which was  bubbling and spuming during this decade.   As the
wagons pulled up to the cantinas, the future Zaragosa Girls climbed aboard,
ready to serve "La Patria."

The General had received intelligence data that most of  the lead elements
of the French army were formerly Parisian waiters.   Weather reports
indicated a very  hot week.   The French troops were dressed for
winter--with tall hats, heavy wool  tunics and wool trousers; the lead
units were particularly  distressed by the heat because they were in an
echelon formation as they moved  up the valley which leads from Vera Cruz
to Puebla. The tactic chosen was to place Zaragosa Girls along the  route
of march to distract the Frenchmen from their military goal.  As the
Zaragosa ladies came out from  behind various bushes and trees,  the former
waiters were seen throwing off their tall hats and tearing off  the
oppressive tunics.  Many were  heard to exclaim: "I am a lover and not a
fighter" (a loose translation).  Eventually, the forward elements were
 converted to the Mexican cause and laid the foundation for a very
successful  ambush by General Zaragosa's armed troops just South of Puebla.
 (Members of PCA/ACA  visited the site of this battle during an eye-opening
tour led by David  Brye.)  Many visitors wonder why the cuisine of Puebla
is so  continental.  Well, the reason goes  back to that first CINCO DE
MAYO in which the French waiters
joined hands and menus with the Mexican waitresses.  Many lived happily
ever after in wedded bliss, managing restaurants in the vicinity of Puebla
and Chilula--blending the  cuisine of
both sides of the Pyrennes, a wonderful combination of  chicken, chocolate
(mole) and salsa dishes which have yet to reach the United  States.

There were other culinary results of the French invasion:  the Hapsburg
Maximilian was installed by the French invaders as the Emperor of  Mexico.
 As a result, German and Austrian brewers gravitated to the country and
developed  a palate for light lagers, but also a darker style known as
Vienna lager.  The latter style fell out of fashion in  Europe, but
continues into our own time as “Dos Equis”  Amber.  This brand and style of
beer  remains popular in Puebla and the United States and should be served
at any  meeting studying the Southwest.)

Now back to the historical origins of Cinco de Mayo….The  great, great
grandchildren of the French soldiers and the Zaragosa Girls now  work at
the Volkswagen factory North of Puebla.  Every time you see a new
Volkswagon  “Bug,” remember that it has been built by the offspring of
CINCO DE MAYO and remember the great victory of love over war in a chapter
of Mexican history which so many celebrate without truly understanding.
Peter Rollins, Ph.D.

DAVID BRYE VERSION:
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was
manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of
the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be
the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This
would have been  the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered
to  Mexico.  But as we know the great ship did not make it to New York. The
ship hit  an iceberg and sank and the cargo was forever lost. The people of
Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its
delivery were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that
they declared a National Day of Mourning which they still observe to this
 day.  The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th. and is
known of course as “Sinko de Mayo.”
David Brye