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Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with mayonnaise, unless you use guacamole as a mayonnaise substitute. It's the Mexican version of St. Patrick's Day or Chinese New Year -- an excuse for an ethnic group to celebrate being ... well ... being themselves. Cinco de Mayo celebrations abound
By Burl Burlingame
BBurlingame@starbulletin.comThe Fifth of May is not like the Fourth of July; it has nothing to do with Mexican independence. It celebrates kicking French butt.
It seems that France decided Mexico was ripe for the picking after the country was left destitute after a civil war. In 1861, President Benito Juarez declared that all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. Like tough loan sharks, England, Spain and France invaded, but only France remained when it became evident the cupboard was bare.
Napoleon III, annoyed that the United States was becoming a world power, decided this would be a good time to set up a parallel empire in Mexico to counter the United States (which had its own civil war going on, mind you). French troops poured in, along with Hapsburg royalty Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carolota to rule the new empire.
On May 5, 1862, Texas-born Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza's 5,000 machete-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the 8,000-strong modern French army at the little town of Puebla, east of Mexico City. It was quite a shock to Napoleon III, who was allying himself with the Confederacy in the Southern United States. The victory allowed American Union forces to secretly supply Mexico with arms and volunteers to fight the French.
In 1863, France seized the whole country, and Maximilian ruled until he was executed in a military coup in 1867. France's "Mexican Adventure" was over.
Mexico's Independence Day was Sept. 16, 1810, but Cinco de Mayo is remembered more fondly as the day when the underdog Americans whupped the meddling Europeans and kept France from being a player in the American Civil War, which is a primary reason the holiday is as significant here as in Mexico.
Keep all these things in mind as you're slurping your way through Cinco de Mayo events:
Today
>> Compadres' Managers Party: Margaritas and mai tais are $2 from 4 to 7 p.m., and grilled oysters at $3 per trio. Call 591-8307 for more information.
Saturday
>> The Row Bar: A Cinco de Mayo celebration features $2 and $3 drink specials from 8 to 11 p.m., with contemporary music by Enbious and food by Lucarelli's at Restaurant Row. There is no cover charge and parking is free. Call 528-2345 for information.>> "Salsa de Mayo": Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii commemorate La Batalla de Puebla beginning at 9:30 p.m. with a "Viva Mexico" party at South Seas Village at Hawaiian Hut in the Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive. There will also be a Mexican dance show by Los Amigos-Ballet Folklorico de Hawaii. Cover is $10 at the door. Must be 18. Call 941-5205 for more information.
>> Compadres' Pre-Cinco party: Hawaiian music and half-price pupu from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 591-8307 for more information.
Cinco de Mayo
>> Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: The salsa sounds of Son Caribe and the Latin contemporary/Mexican sounds of Second Time Around will fill McCully Shopping Center from 5 to 9 p.m. while the Grupo Quetzal Mexican Folkloric Dancers also keep families entertained. There'll be beer and food sampling, arts and crafts and piñatas for children. Free.>> Compadres' Party Zone: Bust out that sombrero you picked up on your Tijuana trip for this event. The Ward Centre restaurant has never been able to contain the party to its own site, and in anticipation of this year's spill-over effect will be opening the doors to the site formerly occupied by A Pacific Cafe to make room for the tequila-swilling, maracas-waving crowd. The party runs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., with entertainment by DJ Rocky Dunmire. Call 591-8307.
>> Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, the Grupo Quetzal Mexican Folkloric Dancers get around on Cinco de Mayo. They'll perform from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Fountain Courtyard. Free.
>> Waikiki Treasure Hunt and Cinco de Mayo Party: Singles party sponsored by Kindred Hearts Hawaii sends teams hunting for clues in Waikiki, beginning at Kapiolani Park. Afterward, hang around for the prize ceremonies over margaritas and pupu. A $15 fee covers prizes for the winning team. Call 254-2712 for details.
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