How to Celebrate Cinco De Mayo

Learn the history of Cinco de Mayo.

Emperor Napoleon III, eager to establish a French stronghold in Mexico, commanded the French Army to start marching toward Mexico City. He sent a fleet ahead to attack, but the French army never made it there. A young Mexican general named Ignacio Zaragoza engaged the French troops at the city of Puebla and defeated them. This battle took place on May 5, 1862.^{[1] X Research source}

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's victory at the (first) battle of Puebla. It was a major morale boost for Mexico, but it didn’t end the war. Battles continued and the French invasion succeeded the following year.

Cinco de Mayo isn’t an official Mexican holiday, but Mexicans do commemorate the date. The victory in battle is the primary reason for celebration in Mexico.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo focuses more on celebrating Mexican culture in general. American celebrations began in 1863 as a show of solidarity with Mexico against the French.^{[2] X Research source}

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2

Teach kids fun facts about Mexican culture.

Young children may not be able to grasp all the battle details, so focus on celebrating culture instead. Sharing a few cool facts with them can be the start of their cultural exploration. Pick simple facts that children can easily understand. For example:

Mexico City is the oldest city in North America and Mexico’s capital.

Chocolate is from Mexico. The cacao plant was first cultivated there.

The dahlia is Mexico’s national flower.^{[3] X Research source}

3

Make a traditional Mexican dish at home.

There’s so much more to Mexican cuisine than these familiar dishes, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying them as a way to celebrate Mexican culture! They’re delicious, kid-friendly, and a snap to whip up. Tortilla chips and salsa is another family favorite.

Make guacamole with avocado, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.

Whip up some tasty tacos. If you’re a vegetarian, feel free to omit the beef.

Try an easy enchilada recipe for your family to enjoy.

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4

Eat at an authentic Mexican restaurant.

Mole Poblano originated in Puebla, where the battle against the French took place. Find an authentic Mexican restaurant in your area, preferably one owned by Mexican-Americans that boasts an authentic Mexican chef, and order their Mole Poblano. If they don’t have that specific dish, try any Mole dish they have on the menu.^{[4] X Research source}
Mole is a gravy-like sauce used as a filling and a topping in Mexican Cuisine. Mole recipes vary widely across different Mexican regions.

5

Put up colorful decorations.

You can incorporate those colors using streamers, balloons, flags, garlands, banners, tissue poms, and any other Cinco de Mayo party décor that you like! Since Cinco de Mayo festivals and parades tend to be very colorful, feel free to work in other vibrant colors like orange and yellow.^{[5] X Research source}
Avoid stereotypical décor since that can come off as offensive. For example, decorating with sombreros and ponchos isn’t respectful (and wearing them is definitely not okay).^{[6] X Research source}

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6

Listen to traditional Mexican music.

If you’re able to get out and enjoy traditional Mexican music in a live setting, that would be a great way to celebrate! Mariachi music is a popular option, but there are two other types of traditional Mexican music you can explore: Norteño and Banda.^{[7] X Research source}

You might tune in to a radio station or look up Spotify playlists that showcase traditional Mexican music.

Mexican-American musician Selena was known as the Queen of Tejano. If you aren’t sure where to start, or if you prefer music with a pop influence, you might look up some of Selena’s tunes.^{[8] X Research source}

7

Attend a local parade or festival.

This is especially true in cities where there’s a large Mexican-American population (Denver, Chicago, Portland, etc.)^{[9] X Research source} If your area hosts a festival, go soak up the culture! There will likely be traditional Mexican music, dancing, and plenty of delicious food.^{[10] X Research source}
Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles is one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the world. If you’re within driving distance, this event would definitely be worth a road trip.

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8

Check out museums honoring Mexican art and culture.

Local art galleries and museums may have special exhibits up during Cinco de Mayo. You can also see if any visiting Mexican artists or educators are giving public lectures, showcasing artwork, and so on. A quick internet search can help you find local venues and educational events.

9

Read Mexican literature.

There’s so much beautiful Mexican literature and poetry out there, from the classics to more contemporary writers. You can always do your own Google search to browse specific genres, but here are a few great books to get you started:

Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel

The Labyrinth of Solitude, by Octavio Paz

The Death of Artemio Cruz, by Carlos Fuentes

Guardian Devil, by Xavier Velasco^{[11] X Research source}

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10

Remember to be respectful.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo can be a beautiful and rich cultural experience. However, make the holiday about the history and avoid anything that reinforces racial or cultural stereotypes. Things to avoid:

Wearing any type of “Mexican” costume (sombreros, ponchos, etc.)

Wearing a fake mustache

Speaking in a fake Mexican accent

Using this as an excuse to drink margaritas and do tequila shots