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In the first years of the twentieth century, the British food processing giant, Hellman’s, dominated the world condiment market with their flagship product, mayonnaise. It had become such a success worldwide such that Hellman’s’ couldn’t meet the demand and had to assign each country an annual allotment. In Mexico, it was a staple of the diet for rich and poor alike. To this day, Mexicans put Hellman’s on everything from their breakfast cereal to their dessert.
A little known historical footnote reveals that when the Titanic sailed from Southampton on April 11, 1912, she carried in her hold Mexico’s entire annual allotment of Hellman’s for the coming year.
When the news of the loss of the Titanic and its cargo reached Mexico, the entire country went into a deep emotional depression. Businesses, schools and government offices ceased to open. Farmers stopped tending their fields. People stopped going to mass — all in response to the loss of their beloved condiment.
In short order, the government and the church realized that something dramatic had to be done to snap the nation out of this funk, so they scheduled a holiday. The hope was that people would come out of their homes and into the streets, businesses would reopen, and life would begin anew.
So they scheduled special masses, fiestas, concerts, parades, sporting events and whatever else they could think of to lure people out of their homes and breathe new life into the communities. That holiday was scheduled for May 5, 1912.
And it worked!
People rose to the occasion to celebrate. Businesses and schools reopened. Farmers went back to their fields and the economy was rejuvenated. And so every year Mexicans relive the celebration that saved their country from economic collapse.
And that is the real story of sinko de mayo . . .
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]
A little known historical footnote reveals that when the Titanic sailed from Southampton on April 11, 1912, she carried in her hold Mexico’s entire annual allotment of Hellman’s for the coming year.And that is the real story of sinko de mayo . . .[/quote] :lol::lol::lol:
In 1756, mayonnaise was invented in France by Duke de Richelieu’s chief. [b]In 1905, the first ready-made mayonnaise was sold at Richard [u]Hellman’s New York deli[/u]. In 1912, mayonnaise was mass marketed and called “Hellman’s Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise.[/b]”
The true story of [b]CINCO DE MAYO[/b]:
The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.
So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.
The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.
Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon’s French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.
The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy — as European countries traditionally did.
Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico’s president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz’ superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.
Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.
It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?
In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.
Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That’s why Cinco de Mayo is such a party — A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. [b]VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!![/b]:D
[quote=”Scott”]You are bloody amazing David – Where on earth did you dig this hilarious tidbit up?
Scott[/quote]
Scott, as you age, your cerebral arteries become more and more brittle. This is fair warning . . .
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]I guess I’m being dense, Les. What’s the punchline?[/quote]
You aren’t being dense and there isn’t any punchline, David.I thought your story of the sinking of the mayonnaise was great.
We celebrated Cinco de Mayo for many years with our Mexican friends in California and I just added the true reason for the celebration that included why the U.S. should also be celebrating. With that battle the Mexicans contributed to the North winning the civil war.
Something that some Ticos MAY remind you, They are “Americans” too. Canadians, U.S. citizens and Mexicans are ALL North Americans. Its a little left of PC but it is true. And something to remember in our economic war with Southeast Asia, China and Japan. We are all in one sinking boat.
Sinko de Mayo(nnaise). . . HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
On the other hand, Salsa is the #1 condiment in all of North America. Got your own recipe? We do. . . and there are thousands of recipes for this favored condiment.
[quote=”guru”] Something that some Ticos MAY remind you, They are “Americans” too. Canadians, U.S. citizens and Mexicans are ALL North Americans. Its a little left of PC but it is true. [/quote]
You quote is correct in every way. Which leaves us with the problem of renaming citizens of the U.S. of A. Since the term Gringo is applied to Canadiens and U.S. citizens alike I thought maybe…USArs?[quote=”guru”]On the other hand, Salsa is the #1 condiment in all of North America. Got your own recipe? We do. . . and there are thousands of recipes for this favored condiment.[/quote]
My wife handles the salsas, mild and picante, while I specialize in chili verde picante of two regional types.I was told by a Gringo that Ticos didn’t like picante salss. Boy was I lied to. They will eat the picante salsa as a side dish with eyes watering and sweat streaming.
surest way to get sick as hell in mexico is to eat that damn mayonnaise. half the time they do not refrigerate it. ugh it becomes a bacteria factory and almost everyone i ever met who did get sick there admitted they had mayonnaise on their hamburguesa!!! eat salsa, the hotter the better!! just looking at that stuff in a jar gives me the willies.
Enjoy mayonnaise while you can……here in the U.S. you almost need to obtain a equity line of credit, to buy a jar! They reduced the jar size and raised the price.
[quote=”waggoner41″] As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.
Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That’s why Cinco de Mayo is such a party — A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. [b]VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!![/b]:D[/quote]
Hmmm! Les:
Mexicans rushing to join the US armed forces during the Gulf War had nothing to do with the fact that they were offering citizenship for doing so, right?
Didn’t the Gringos steal most of the fertile land that once belonged to Mexico?
Didn’t California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, as well as parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas used to belong to Mexico?
Looks to me like they’re taking it back slowly…
Scott
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