By a show of hands, how many of you think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day?
A week or two ago I decided that on May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, I would rally everyone I know to go out and have a little Mexican evening to celebrate what I thought was the holiday of Mexican Independence. I told everyone that as an American I am culturally obligated to celebrate other culture's holidays without actually knowing what they are about. (think about it. It's true).
So as of this afternoon, I had 6 people on board. Though, I still had to resolve the question of WHERE were we going to go. I researched Mexican restaurants, thinking they would be holding some form of celebration and we could all go and have a drink. I learned that it is not permitted in restaurants in France to only have a drink. Eating is required. So the Mexican restaurants went out the window. And the troops began dropping like flies.
Alex, my new Mexican doctor friend whom I'd met at Naomi & Juan's party was by this point at my apartment. (I can see all your little heads filling with ideas... sorry to burst your bubble but Alex is a lady, not a hunky man. Sorry, peeps) We decided on just going to any bar (not necessarily Mexican). One by one, we lost the rest of the party and Alex and I decided to just pick a bar near my apt rather than traipse out to Republique as planned.
Here is the best part. I thought, as I mentioned, that Cinco de Mayo is the holiday of Mexican Independence. I asked Alex about this. I am wrong. She couldn't tell me what the holiday actually was though. While at my place her father happens to call. She asks him. Alex's dad informed us that, in fact, Cinco de Mayo celebrates a battle between Mexico and France, in which France *lost*. He told us that battle never existed. At least not as far as the French are concerned.
Did I mention that her father is French and her mother Mexican?
I am still cracking up that we, an American and a Franco-Mexican woman, were headed out to find a bar in Paris in which to toast specifically Mexican perseverance over France.
All together just *way* too perfect. (If you understand French nationalism, you will see how funny that is)
Salud! To Mexico!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment