Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is a day of celebration in Mexico that commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Today, Cinco de Mayo has become a cultural phenomenon celebrated across the United States as a day to enjoy Mexican cuisine, music, and traditions.
If you’re looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style, here are a few tips to help you get the party started:
Plan a festive menu:
No Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without traditional Mexican dishes like tacos, guacamole, and salsa. However, you can also mix things up by trying new recipes like chiles rellenos or mole poblano.
Serve margaritas:
What better way to celebrate than with a classic margarita? You can also experiment with new flavors like strawberry or mango.
Decorate with colorful accents:
Brighten your space with colorful decorations like papel picado (tissue paper banners), piñatas, and sombreros.
Play traditional music:
Set the mood with a playlist of traditional Mexican music, including Mariachi bands and salsa music.
Learn about Mexican culture:
Living in Texas, our family vacations in Mexico every year. Throughout the years, we have come to appreciate the art, the culture, and of course, the history of this beautiful country.
At the time, Mexico was deeply in debt and struggling to establish a stable government. In 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez declared a temporary moratorium on the repayment of foreign debts, angering France, Britain, and Spain. While Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces, France saw this as an opportunity to expand its empire in Mexico and sent a well-equipped army to attack.
The French army, led by General Charles de Lorencez, outnumbered the Mexican military by two to one and was considered one of the best armies in the world. Despite this, on May 5, 1862, a small Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated the French army in Puebla. The victory was a significant morale boost for Mexico, and it delayed France’s ultimate capture of Mexico City for another year.
Cinco de Mayo became a symbol of Mexican pride and patriotism, and the holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and the United States. In the US, Cinco de Mayo is often associated with celebrations of Mexican-American culture and heritage, parades, music, traditional food, and dancing.
Have a memorable Cinco de Mayo celebration that honors Mexican culture and traditions. So grab your friends and family, put on your sombrero, and let the fiesta begin!