Contrary to what many Americans think (and we here at PavCo Multimedia use the word “Americans” in its most parochial sense, meaning “US Residents who can’t find Mexico on a map”), today’s “holiday” does not honor Mexican Independence Day (which is September 16, which doesn’t fit as nicely on a banner across the front of a bar), but instead commemorates the Battle of Puebla, a battle against invading French forces, back in the days when the French had a battle plan other than running very fast in the opposite direction.
The truth however (and yes, we use the word “truth” in purely subjective terms) is that the battle was a minor victory, and centered on the sinking of a single French freighter which wasn’t even carrying weapons or troops. No, the French freighter Gastronomique was a supply ship for the French mess tents, carrying various foodstuffs and condiments. Chief among the losses were 200 jars of mayonnaise, a staple of the French soldiers’ field rations at the time. The loss and the inability of the French forces to retrieve the jars from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico proved demoralizing for the French soldiers, at least until 29,000 reinforcements (and an additional 300 jars) arrived shortly thereafter, and overran Puebla.
But to this day, the locals still celebrate the Sinko de Mayo.
The 300 Project: 19/94
