I hate to admit it, but when I first learned of Cinco de Mayo 20 years ago, I thought it was Mexico's Independence Day -- its equivalent of our July Fourth. I learned about the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo when I took a Frito-Lay Marketing job on the West Coast a few years later and my family and I moved from Dallas to San Francisco. It was becoming a fun holiday to celebrate in California, and at Frito-Lay, we supported it with in-store snack displays providing party tips to help families celebrate the richness of Mexican culture and cuisine.
My fellow Californians taught me that Mexico's Independence Day is actually on Sept. 16, when, in 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain. On the other hand, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of Mexican militia over a much larger and better-armed French army in Puebla, southeast of Mexico City, 40 years later.
Although Cinco de Mayo is always on May 5 (despite the question people jokingly ask, "What day is Cinco de Mayo this year?" that I've always had to think about before answering!), the parties I've attended are usually held the weekend before the holiday.
As Cinco de Mayo has grown into a popular holiday celebrated across the United States, today, Frito-Lay continues to play a big part in its celebrations. No party would be complete without Tostitos tortilla chips, dips and salsas.
My wife, Janis, and I usually enjoy Tostitos Restaurant Style chips and guacamole, but this year, we're going to try Tostitos Dipping Strips with the Chipotle Salsa recipe on the Tostitos Web site (where you also can find a number of other dip and salsa recipes to spice up your Cinco de Mayo).
Whichever Tostitos chips and dips you choose for your parties, I hope you have a great time this weekend. You might even try out the joke on your friends, "What day is Cinco de Mayo this year?" to see if they are as gullible as I am.
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