Does It Still Count as Celebrating Cinco de Mayo If You Do So on May 4th?

business, family, humor, lessons learned 2 Minutes

Like many people in the U.S., we have been celebrating Cinco de Mayo for several years.

Usually we do so by either eating at or getting take-out from a Mexican restaurant.

Last year we ordered take out from Qdoba, and it was quite hectic. While there was no diners eating in (you weren’t allowed), there seemed to be dozens of online orders that completely overwhelmed the staff. They were working non-stop, but it was impossible to stay up with the deluge and the result was significant delays in getting the orders completed. Our order was finally ready after one hour. Please note I am not criticizing Qdoba here. I was happy they were open, the employees were working as hard as they could, and the food was delicious.

This year, in a pre-emptive move designed to beat the crowd and avoid long delays, we decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, on May 4th. We ordered take-out from a wonderful local Mexican restaurant, Buena Vista.

And just like we hoped, there was no line. While picking up the food, I wished the owner good luck with tomorrow, and he said it would be a crazy day. But I am sure they are looking forward to it.

But now my fear is that when tomorrow rolls around, I’ll feel like I cheated the holiday by getting my food one day early.

After all, people don’t celebrate Christmas on December 24 or New Year’s Eve on December 30.

But I’ll keep telling myself how rational the decision to celebrate a day early was, while I ponder what to do with the extra hour I’ll pick up in my day.

And maybe we’ll celebrate May the 4th be with you tomorrow…

By the way, if you’re not sure what Cinco de Mayo is all about, here is a brief blurb from History.com:

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Wednesday, May 5 in 2021, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

 

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

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86 thoughts on “Does It Still Count as Celebrating Cinco de Mayo If You Do So on May 4th?”

  1. Seems to make the most sense to celebrate a mid-week holiday the weekend before. And it’s how we usually do it in our home.

    With that said, I’m always a little disappointed when my Wednesday bday rolls around and I don’t have dinner plans. So, dinner plans are made at a restaurant for a second time in a week.

    In other words, I say, get tacos tomorrow to!

    Also… thanks for sharing some history🇲🇽

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  2. Celebrate away on whatever day you please. We actually used to move Christmas to New Year’s Eve when my husband’s sons were with their mother on Christmas Day. Worked out just fine for several years until JT was born on New Year’s Eve. Then we just moved Christmas to another day around the same time. No cheating required.

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  5. I like the way you think. It’s more the act of celebrating rather than the exact date. For example, if people celebrate Thanksgiving one day earlier or one day later than the actual holiday because of work, does it mean that it’s less relevant?

    Now, maybe tomorrow, you can go trick-or-treating to really throw people off their game.

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  6. I am feeling a little left out – I don’t celebrate 4th of May Star Wars Day – due to n lack of interest and have only just heard of 5th May from several bloggers. Lots of European countries eat their main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve so I think enjoyment of your Mexican food the night before is fine!

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    1. I don’t celebrate May the 4th either; I’ve never been a fan of Star Wars. But May 5th seems to be gaining in popularity in the U.S. And that’s good to know about Europeans eating their big meal on Christmas Eve!

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      1. They’ve been there for centuries, and Brexit isn’t helping! Having been born and brought up in a town which is home to one of the largest castles they built here, that history has always registered with me.

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      37. The night off was last night but thanks! 😉 and the story got posted right before midnight. Why ideas have to hit me late at night I don’t know! Probably because the house is quiet!

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      44. just went back and read it again. I guess as soon as I saw the word snake, I skipped the rest of that sentence. Just looked it nutria; seeing one of those would be a reason to get in the car and go home… 🙂

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