Perhaps unknown among most people is how much the Mexican people like mayonnaise. One of the most important early trading partners for the young country of Mexico was France, a country then famous for its production of mayo.
The Mexicans liked mayo so much they actually named a month after it.
A favorite ship used for transport was sentimentally christened "Mayo," and used for years, filling its holds with nothing but cases and cases of mayo.
Grand celebrations would take place at each docking when finally arriving in port.
One stormy night Mayo, and its whole boatload, full of bottled, wondrous, magical sandwich spread, was battered by weather and waves, and tragically sunk into the ocean.
The whole shipment was lost.
Fortunately the crew of the boat was able to get onto a lifeboat, and struggle to shore. Not knowing where they were, they wandered.
When the ship did not arrive to the expectant, assembled, welcoming crowd in port, panic set in. Leaders determined to get to the bottom of the outrage, and sent out the army to discover what happened.
Running into the shipwrecked survivors, and hearing the story of the demise of their ship Mayo, and of course the awful loss of the entire shipment of mayonnaise, the commanding general was so angered he determined to get immediate revenge.
Recognizing their fate, the bedraggled, shipwrecked French had no choice but to run. And they did.
Chasing the fleeing French survivors, the Mexican army finally caught up to them in a small mesa outside of a little puebla, and engaged the French in a decisive yet quick battle (isn't any military confrontation with the French always quick?).
Proudly securing defeat and revenge, the country of Mexico has ever since celebrated the victory of The Battle of Puebla, and the Sinko De Mayo.
Why in the world they celebrate it on May 5th is beyond me.
Gee, telling that story has made me kind of hungry.
Anyone want to join me in eating a ham sandwich? I like mine with lots of mayo...
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