On Saturday, September 16, I walked into my local Whole Foods Market on University Ave in San Diego and standing there was a striped donkey with a sombrero slung over a leather saddle. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was not seeing things. As my vision cleared I realized it was striped, it was a burro, but it was fiberglass and part of “Salsa Day” that Whole Foods was sponsoring for recognition of Mexican Independence Day.

I checked the calendar on my watch and it read September 16. Wasn't “Cinco de Mayo” Mexican Independence Day? There was a fellow standing next to the donkey giving out free samples of Organic Tortilla Chips so I thought I would ask him. Since tortilla chips and salsa are the perfect compliments to a Mexican holiday I figured he would be an expert. I was right, this tortilla chip guy had the answer I was looking for.

Ric Kraszewski, of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, explained the difference of the two holidays to me . Ric told me “Mexican Independence day came first in 1810 and the first Cinco de Mayo took place in 1862. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and then forced to leave Mexico. Cinco de Mayo, however, is the celebration of the day when 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.”

Ric told me that I was not the only person that was suffering from “celebration confusion” and offered me some of his great tasting chips. In addition to his chips I sampled some delicious salsa from DJ Jardines and La Salsa Chilena. Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, I quickly learned, are better for dipping. On their attractive package is the slogan “Better for Dipping by Natural Design” and they are right. I made my way through several samples of the different salsas and none of it landed on my shirt that I was still wearing from last night.

I want to thank Ric of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips for clearing my mind on Mexican Holidays and Whole Foods for always providing the quality organic products that I enjoy.