Cinco de Mayo, which literally means May 5th in Spanish, commemorates the victory of the Mexican army against French forces during the Battle of Puebla on this day in 1862. The significance of the defeat of French forces at Puebla is that it gave Mexican forces a significant morale boost since the French army was much bigger and better equipped then they were. However, it was only a temporary boost and the French army eventually prevailed in later battles. Even so, it did mark the end of European aggression in the Americas by military force. For more about the Battle of Puebla visit this Warfare History Network post.
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely victory occurred with military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla, and other festive events. Although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration for many Mexicans, May 5 is a day like any other. Because it is not a federal holiday, offices, banks, and stores remain open.
The holiday is more popular in the United States and has been celebrated nonstop since before the Civil War. Today, it is not only seen as a source of pride for both Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, but also gives us an excuse to indulge in the food, drink, and music of Mexico.
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Grab these free Cinco de Mayo coloring pages, Pinata and Mexican Dancer, from Crayola.
Mexican Hot Cocoa Fiesta Drink
For this festive Mexican Hot Cocoa Fiesta Drink, simply brew one Mexican Hot Cocoa Single Serve Cup on the 4 oz setting. Then, transfer into Margarita glass and fill the remainder of the glass with chocolate milk. Top with whipped topping and lightly dust with cayenne pepper powder or paprika.
Will you be throwing a Mexican fiesta for Cinco de Mayo? After sending out Mexican-themed party invitations you’ll need to plan your menu. To help you, we’ve compiled some of the best Mexican recipes from all over the web and put them on the linky below. Once your menu is set, it’s time to plan the rest of the fiesta. Using the colors of the Mexican flag which are red, white and green are a good choice for your decorations. Photo booths are a fun way to commemorate the celebration. Here are some fun free printable photo booth props. Of course, no Mexican fiesta is complete without a piñata.
Got a great recipe? We’d love for you to add yours to the linky.