A friend, a Mexican friend offered to me this explanation as to why Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with much more gusto than Mexicans;
5 de Mayo is just a minor battle against the French when they were trying to get our territory, and Mexican army won it; so for Mexicans is not a very important battle. Corona Beer maybe even 20 years ago, started making a campaign to sell more beer in the US, and as a marketing tool they advertised it as Cinco de Mayo let's have a Mexican party with beer. Since Cinco de Mayo is an easy language sentence for the least Spanish inclined person, they made it, and everybody in The States thought that it was a big Mexican Hollyday. So, year after year is getting bigger there, and in Mexico the majority of Mexicans ignore what goes on in USA.
And then friend, and fellow blogger Paul, an American offered this story on his blog;
Back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery to Veracruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest, single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York . The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.
The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they began an annual commiseration of their misfortune which they observe to this day.
This National Day of Mourning occurs annually on May 5th and is known as:
Sinko De Mayo.
I like them both!