Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

Looking for any excuse to have a party in the break-room during lunch, I will don my sombrero as our team eats Mexican food and watches The Three Amigos. Believe it or not, I was surprised to learn that Cinco de Mayo isn't really celebrated all over Mexico. Although it is recognized all over the United States (again, any excuse for a party in the break-room), it is regionally celebrated in Mexico, particularly in the state of Puebla.

In the US it's a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride—a great reason to have a party and eat great food! In the state of Puebla, it's the date set apart to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. Contrary to popular belief, Wikipedia suggests that it is not Mexico's Independence Day, which is a national holiday in Mexico celebrates on September 16th.

Without getting into a discussion about Mexican history, suffice it to say a considerably outnumbered Mexican army defeated a much better-equipped French army in the Battle of Puebla. One of the reasons The Battle of Puebla was important  is because since then, no country in the Americas has ever been invaded by a European military force. (A great reason to party, don't you think?)

As we think of those 4000 woefully under-equipped and ill-prepared Mexican soldiers who decisively crushed the 8000-strong French forces (considered the best fighting force of the day), let's take that same "never-say-die" attitude to our work. Remember, the French had not been defeated in almost 50 years at that time.

Today, rally the troops, share in the festivities and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with me and our friends from Mexico. I'm going to enjoy the Three Amigos during lunch—I hope you'll do the same.