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The feather; the pen
Bienvenidos al noticiero: La Pluma.
Welcome to the Newsletter.
Hola <<First Name>>,
For those of you in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Syttende Mai is likely part of your vocabulary. If you’re Norwegian, it is part of your heritage. It came to my attention when a local running race was planned, along with flags, a parade and plenty of ice cream.
Syttende Mai commemorates Norway’s declaration of independence from Sweden in 1814, although it didn’t become official until 1905. The celebration continues to thrive here among the one time immigrants, who found comfort in the similarities of geography in the aforementioned states.
Cinco de Mayo came to the United States more recently, becoming popular first in the southwest and spreading nationwide via the usual cultural carrier – food. Guacamole, margaritas, mole poblano, and cervezas. How did this minor Mexican holiday become a U.S. national phenomena?
What is it, if not Mexico’s Independence day? How are the French involved? Why did Napoleon III think that sending Archduke Maximiliano to become Mexico’s French speaking Emperor would sit well with Mexico? Could this piece of Mexican history have changed the outcome of the U.S. Civil War?
This month’s blog post includes some Mexican/U.S. little studied tidbits. What if the French had won? What if Santa Anna hadn’t lost? And, of little historical importance, who gained financially by promoting Cinco de mayo in the States?! Click to learn answers to these What Ifs and more.
Abrazotes,
Jan(et)
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