I realize that today is Cinco de Mayo. I also acknowledge that, for me, it has no significant value.To me, it’s the same as St. Patrick’s Day, or Boxing Day. Holidays that are important to other people who aren’t me.
However, I do have some fond memories of Cinco de Mayo. When I was little, we lived in Woodland for about three years. Woodland is a farming town, and my elementary school had a very large population of children from migrant workers, most of whom were Mexican. This, in turn, lead to a very large bilingual population, along with students who could only speak Spanish.
Cinco de Mayo was a big thing for our school. In first grade, we practiced for weeks to learn a song in Spanish. I don’t remember much about the second grade, but I’m sure another song was involved. In the third grade, our class learned how to do the Mexican Hat Dance (which may or may not really be Mexican), and then performed it at an assembly.
The assembly was always a big production, held outside in a smallish amphitheater, if you can call it that. The way the building was designed, three classes butted up against one another to create a hollow half of an octagon, and there was a set of steps / seats, that formed three sides of the octagon facing the building, leaving the last two opposing sides as a walk-through.
The whole school would be congregated in this outside amphitheater, watching each class do their little performances. I’m sure there were speeches too, to tell us why it was such an important day, but I don’t remember them.
I do remember the party atmosphere. After the assembly was over, we’d all go back to our classrooms and there would be a big spread set out with all sorts of different Mexican food, and I think once we had a pinata. There was no learning going on for the rest of the day.
So for me, while Cinco de Mayo has no cultural significance, it is a good reason to party. Not that I’ll be doing any of that tonight. Instead, I’ll be working on a paper that just refuses to die. But, I’ll be dreaming about a party.
Happy Cinco de Mayo to those who celebrate!
—”A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More Touch Me,” From Under the Cork Tree: Fall Out Boy
