Blessed Quiet on "Cinco de Mayo"

"Cinco de Mayo" is not Mexican Independence Day.  It is a commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  Outside of the state of Puebla, it is not a legal holiday, and it is not celebrated that much.  However, for some reason, in the Mexico City neighborhood of San Juan de Aragón where Alejandro lives, the day is observed with a noisy mock battle.

(image taken from the web)

Alejandro always dreads "Cinco de Mayo".  Even though the original battle was fought in only three hours, for a couple days and nights, his neighborhood is rocked with the incessant booming of canons, rifles and firecrackers.  Last year was the first time that I was at his house on May 5th, and I could understand why he hates it so much.  The noise was unrelenting and so loud that the windows rattled and car alarms were set off.  

However, the horrendous pandemic this year had one small blessing... a silent "Cinco de Mayo".  When I talked to Alejandro last night on Skype there was nary a firecracker to be heard.  The only sound in the background was the rumble of a distant thunderstorm.