Cinco de Mayo has come and gone. Thanks to the promotional efforts of beer distributors everywhere, Cinco de Mayo has become a holiday for anyone who likes beer or Mexican food. That includes almost everyone in America.

Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution/Independence Day, May 17) is the next immigrant heritage day on the radar. I suspect we aren't likely to see mass commercial promotion of this holiday anytime soon. I suspect it's the food that makes the difference. How popular would Cinco de Mayo be if everyone had to eat menudo?

The Corona Beer pennants and the colorful folk dancing costumes will be put back in the closet to gather dust until next May. “Cinco” (in commercial slang), has become ubiquitous in these United States. It is a day for tacos and Mexican beer, and more beer, according to the hype. The Highway Patrol was proud to advertise their stepped-up DUI enforcement on this day of two dollar beers at almost every bar in California. It's like Saint Patrick's Day with spicier food.

We broke down and walked to The Kilt Pub for a few of their famous tacos and beer. Even a British – Style beer pub owned by a guy ten years out of Scotland offers tacos on this one day. They were excellent tacos.
 You can find a Mexican cultural heritage celebration somewhere under that river of beer and lime wedges. If you go, expect to see Colorful costumes and gray politicians. Politicians can't resist being photographed with Mexican folk dancers.

Photo source: Executive Office of the President of the United States

Syttende Mai, Norway's independence day, is celebrated in in smaller cities throughout the Midwest and in Washington (“flyover territory in mass media slang), where thousands of Norwegians settled in the Nineteenth Century. This stealth holiday commemorates the signing of Norway's Constitution, and declaration of independence from Sweden. It is now a day of colorful flags and tall people wearing traditional colorful Norwegian costumes and colorless facial expressions.

Photo Source: http://ballard.komonews.com

“Why so grim?”, you may ask? Perhaps they are thinking about their upcoming lutefisk dinner. There's nothing like a generous slab of gelatinous cod soaked in lye to put an exclamation point at the end of a day of celebration of Nordic heritage.

Lutefisk is either a Norwegian tradition or an act of penance, no one can remember how it started. Perhaps it started as a hazing ritual on a Viking Ship. I tasted lutefisk once. I can assure you eating lutefisk requires more than a little desire to preserve Norwegian heritage.

The looming threat of lutefisk will always keep Syttende Mai free of Norske-wannabes.