Cinco de Mayo…Recipes, tips and more to plan your fiesta.

May 3, 2018

Hola! Shake a maraca and samba your way over to join us for a fun El Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Dip into our Chipotle-Black Bean Salsa and sip on a margarita.

It’s fiesta time and we’re ready to celebrate.

I’m always up for a party and one that celebrates another culture is an added bonus. As a bordering neighbor, I think it’s especially important to learn and celebrate the rich culture and traditions of Mexico.

Despite common belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. Rather, it’s a celebration of winning a battle. On May 5,1863, Mexico surprisingly defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla. The celebration of this victory is about the determination and bravery of the smaller and less prepared Mexican forces winning the day.

This holiday is important in Mexico but is commonly a larger celebration in other countries. In our home, Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity to gather with friends and family and enjoy all things Mexican. Food, activities, decorations and music give our party a true fiesta feel.

Here are 8 ideas to get ready for a fun El Cinco de Mayo party:

Include the kids. Help the kids learn fun facts about Mexico by searching online or at your local library. Did you know Mexico is the birthplace of chocolate? Just another reason to celebrate Mexico! Print out some of these facts and make trivia cards to place around the party for everyone else to learn more.
Map it. Find Mexico on a map. Post some maps around the party site. This is a good opportunity to discuss how important it is to be good neighbors both on our own street and to other countries.
Speak the language. Learn and use a few basic Spanish phrases. Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
Decorations set the scene. Make these fun decorations using the bright colors Mexicans favor. Old and young will love giving a piñata a whack.
Set up a bar. Be prepared with a pitcher of fruity sangria and your mixer for fresh margaritas. Don’t forget the non-alcoholic versions such as our Mock-Sangria, Mock-Margarita and Watermelon Agua Fresca.
Move your body. Music adds a special something to a party. Check out this link for a site with free access to Mexican music. Teach your guests Latin dances like the merengue or the salsa.
Plan activities. Set up a chili pepper guessing game or peso tossing contest to keep everyone engaged. Check out more ideas here.
Food is key. Mexican cuisine varies by region. The most common ingredients are corn, beans, tomatoes, rice and avocados. While most Mexican food is known to be spicy you can make sure you have a variety of dishes with a few on the lower end of the “spicy” meter.