Fun Facts

- Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.  It commemorates the Mexican army victory over a superior French force at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 (Americans were busy with their Civil War at the time.)  Mexican Independence Day(s), September 15 & 16 commemorates Fr Miguel Hidalgo's declaration of Independence in 1810.

- Hidalgo?  Yes, that is the name of the Mexican state in which Tulancingo is located! Fr. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811) is considered the Father of the Nation.

- In 2010 Mexico celebrated a Bicentennial and a Centennial: the 1810 Independence movement, and the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 that ushered in the modern state of Mexico.

- Tulancingo Food Specialties: Guajolotes, literally "little turkeys", are actually delicious open faced mixtures of toasted pan (bread), fried beans, salsa, cheese and various meats.  Everyone that goes to Tulancingo comes back loving them!  Another specialty: moralianos, apparently each region of Mexico makes their own variety (like tamales.)  And, when you get to Tulancingo, don't ask for a burrito, No comprende! Burritos are largely a Tex-Mex invention.

- Náhuatl: Ever ask yourself why place names like Teotihuacán and Oaxaca don't sound very Spanish?  If you guessed they are Aztec names, you would be right!  The Aztec language, still spoken by nearly a quarter million people in Hidalgo is called Náhuatl (Nahua.)  Hidalgo has about 10% of the remaining Náhuatl speakers.