Reader: Just call it what it is -- Gringo de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo brought the crowds to Civic Center Park this past weekend, where they listened to music, looked at lowriders, and ate such American inventions as the Pueblo slopper -- an open-faced hamburger smothered in green chile. Authentic Mexican food? No -- but then, Cinco de Mayo is not...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 7, 2014

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Cinco de Mayo brought the crowds to Civic Center Park this past weekend, where they listened to music, looked at lowriders, and ate such American inventions as the Pueblo slopper -- an open-faced hamburger smothered in green chile. Authentic Mexican food? No -- but then, Cinco de Mayo is not an authentic Mexican holiday, as many readers pointed out in their comments on this unofficial holiday. See also: Slide show of Cinco de Mayo celebration at Civic Center Park

Says Aric:

Why would Americans even care to celebrate the removal of Emperor Maximillian -- other than an excuse to drink heavily--especially when the real Mexican holiday is September16? Next: let's make Flag Day a thing!

Says Velia:

Just call it what it is -- Gringo de Mayo.

And then there's this:

I stayed home and did not give a flying fuck about this fake ass "holiday". Btw I'm Mexican, so I would know.

What do you think of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations? And when you want to taste some authentic Mexican cuisine, where do you go?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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