Eat the Worm!

One hundred and forty-seven years ago today, a heavily outnumbered Mexican army defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla.  A year later, France would occupy Mexico—but, hey, how about that battle?  It’s like losing the World Series, then saying, "Yeah, but we kicked your ass in game three."  This is precisely why May 5th is not a nationally observed holiday in Mexico and scarcely celebrated there.

 

Of course, we see it differently in the US.  To us, May 5th is a chance to celebrate the fierce independence and tenacity of the underdog while chasing tequila shots with five-dollar buckets of Corona.  Toss in monster sombreros to wear and piñatas filled with condoms, and this may just be a day worth celebrating annually.

Sorry, bro, but you’re a bit hard to follow.

noun.     1. A government controlled by the government of another country.  

France’s puppet was a spoiled 32-year-old Austrian named Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph.  The cheese dick took the name Maximilian I and was tapped to be emperor of Mexico.  Four years later, in 1867, the French bailed under pressure from the US, and Max was given a front-row seat for the firing squad.

The idea of squeezing a lime into Mexican beer originated with the first brew-master of Tecate beer.  The gentleman was of Scottish descent and adopted the practice from English sailors, who used lime in their daily rations to stave off scurvy.  Today, limes are used as an accompaniment for a variety of Mexican beers.  Thankfully, the brewer was not a restaurateur: haggis nachos would’ve bombed.

Not for Margaritas: Other Cool May 5ths