LETTERS

Lo siento, amigos

I enjoyed your Multichannel Merchant article “Speaking to the Hispanic market” (August issue) and your sidebar about the potential pitfalls awaiting those who do so. Unfortunately, you fell into one of those pitfalls.

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's independence day; it commemorates Mexico's victory over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Outside of Puebla, it's a relatively obscure holiday in most of Mexico but an increasingly popular excuse for gringos in the U.S. to consume tequila and guacamole.

Mexico's real independence day is Sept. 16, commemorating the start of a decade-long fight for independence from Spain that began on Sept. 16, 1810.

George Leposky, senior manager-marketing communications, American Welding Society (AWS)