h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not a holiday to celebrate popular sandwich condiments but one of those holidays that is slowly being usurped by Americans as an excuse to drink/eat/be silly...

Cinco De Mayo is, according to the back of the Taco Bell bag on my desk, the day Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain. That's cool, I'm all for independence.

Of course, though, the day is being usurped by people who really have nothing to do with it. The only people I've seen getting excited about Cinco De Mayo are middle-class white guys who are happy for a chance to bring out their tooth-melting chili recipe once again...

It reminds me of St. Patrick's day, when "everyone is Irish" - something that has always baffled me. People - American or otherwise - rarely need an excuse to drink beer and wax eloquent (if erratically) about their roots.

But the locals - I'm in California - are picky about which national days they usurp. I've yet to see any of the aforementioned white middle-class men running around with little stuffed dragons and the cross of St. George on that saint's day - although an alarming number of them are starting to observe The Day of The Dead.

Any insight into the justification of this would be appreciated. Drop me a line at [email protected]