This past weekend, I was in Dallas working on freelance assignments and happened to drive by Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The parking lot was full of people, about 80,000 strong, but there was no game. The National Football League season doesn’t start until August.

I wondered what was going on, and found that the venue was hosting a Cinco de Mayo get-together.

“Ohhhh yeah, that’s riiiiigggghhht,” I thought. “It’s time for another cheap reason to get drunk.”

I am Mexican and on a day like Cinco de Mayo, I am proud of the way a small Mexican congregation defeated the French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

I’m proud, but I will not celebrate it.

Instead, I call this day Circo de Mayo, as in “May Circus.” The type of circus that brings together a bunch of clowns that for one day think their Mexican pride is something of a circus-like attraction.

At the venue there was a free concert that brought together big-name Mexican regional performers and bands. All of this while the large audience (which was expected to reach over 100,000) was crowded, hot and frustrated while being fenced in behind the stage area the way poor animals are treated at the circus.

A few tarps gave shade to the vendors, which had the antics of magicians as they transported money out of people’s wallets into their own.

The only thing missing were the red balls used for noses on the faces of those clowns in attendance. But that’s understandable, as the noses were replaced by Budweiser, Tecate and Corona beers that gave the people a more realistic look to their Cinco de Mayo costumes.

I love Mexico and its rich history. But it angers me to see that Mexican events are put together without teaching communities what the celebration is about.

I have been a resident of the United States for 16 years, and I have yet to have anyone teach me what Cinco de Mayo is about. In fact, I learned more about the event when I was going to school in my hometown in Mexico.

Out there, however, there was never a large celebration or a reason to party. The country only does that in September, when everyone goes wild over Independence Day festivities.

I was shocked when I came to the U.S. and was exposed to the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

It bothers me to think that anyone would take such an important day in vain and just use it as an excuse to party.

Then again, we must take into account that there is a long time between St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day. So, over-hyping this early May event serves as a good way to get in a few beers during the withdrawal and uncertainty period.

But for all of those clowns out there, I have one thing to tell you: Leave my Mexican heritage out of it when looking to get drunk. If you must have a reason to party, don’t forget that Mother’s Day is just around the corner.

Take the circus to her. Besides, she’s probably the only one who will be entertained with your act.