Etc.
Section B • Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
hursdav, May 3, 200
SFX, and the SFX-logo are service marks of SFX Entertainment, Inc
Weekend fiestas abound
Town gears up for Cinco de Mayo
By Brandon Stinnett sports@kansan.com Kansas sportwriter
With Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, students have an extra incentive to visit their favorite Mexican restaurants. Local businesses are expecting a big turnout to celebrate the holiday, even though some people don't really know what they're celebrating.
Brent Zluticky, Wichita junior, isn't familiar with Mexican history, but already has plans to go out Saturday and celebrate with his friends.
Adam Obley, Topeka sophomore,
compared Cinco de Mayo to another
popular holiday.
"It's not my independence," he said. "For me, it's just an excuse to party."
"It's just like St. Patrick's Day." Obley said. "I don't think Americans really know what they're celebrating."
Lee Skinner, assistant professor of Spanish, said the holiday commemorated the Mexican victory against the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the battle, a powerful French army attempted to invade Mexico City, but was driven back by an outgunned and outnumbered band of Mexicans from the town.
Despite what some people think, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.
"It's a classic story of an underdog overcoming a superior force and it effused Mexicans with pride," Skinner said.
The true Mexican Independence Day is September 16, and it's much bigger holiday in Mexico than Cinco de Mayo. José Sanchez, a manager at El Mezcal, 1819 W. 23rd St., who is Mexican, said he didn't mind that most Americans didn't understand Cinco de Mayo's true meaning.
"It's okay," he said. "I like that they celebrate with us, too."
Skinner said society's apparent lack of knowledge about Cinco de Mayo shouldn't be too alarming.
"I don't think it's bad, necessarily," he said. "I wish that people had better understanding of the history and knew why they were out at a Mexican restaurant drinking margaritas. The positive way of looking at this is that it does show the diversity of American cultures."
Even if most people don't know what they're celebrating, most local Mexican restaurants plan to offer specials on Saturday to entice customers.
El Mezcal will offer $1 Coronas and $7.75 fajitas to attract restaurant-goers.
"A lot of people like to go out so we like to have specials." Sanchez said. "It's a custom in Mexico. Every business does it. It'a money thing, but we like to do it every year to celebrate the Mexican war against the French."
Coco Loco Mexican Cafe, 943 Massachusetts St. is, going to offer drink specials and live entertainment from a Mariachi band for its
CINCO DE MAYO
When: Saturday.
What: Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrating victory against the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the battle, a powerful French army attempted to invade Mexico City, but was driven back by an outgunned and outnumbered band of Mexicans in the town of Puebla.
Cinco de Mayo celebration, said Kefel Al, the restaurant's owner.
"This is as commercial a holiday as the rest of them," he said. "What's very strange to me is that people do know about Cinco de Mayo. It's becoming like St. Patrick's Day."
Aquil said he expected a big crowd Saturday.
"We reap the benefits of Cinco de Mayo," he said. "We're ready for it."
Not all local Mexican restaurants are making plans for the holiday. Carlos O'Kelly's, 707 W. 23rd, isn't doing anything special.
"We haven't even discussed it yet, even though it is coming up soon," said restaurant manager Heather Cregan. "We usually put Corona on special, but we don't do anything too terrific."
Phillip Rodriguez, manager at La Familia Cafe, 733 New Hampshire, said his restaurant wouldn't be joining in, either.
"We really don't because we don't have liquor here," Rodriguez said. "We always get busy, but we don't really run anything special."
- Edited by Jacob Roddy
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