Cinco de Mayo is often celebrated in America with half-price margaritas, beer, and cheap tacos. There are usually pinatas, brightly colored tablecloths, and sombreros, but do you know what Cinco de Mayo really stands for? [Read more…]
Hosting a Cinco De Mayo Party
We celebrate Cinco de Mayo but do you really know what this Mexican holiday stands for? Here is a brief history, traditions and activities that take place this day.
Some people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence day but these are two completely different holidays. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French army at what is called “La Batalla de Puebla” or the battle of Puebla. On September 16, 1862, President Benito Juarez made this day an annual holiday in Mexico.
Most celebrations take place in Puebla. It is tradition to have speeches, parades and reenactments of the battle with people dressed in Mexican and French soldier uniforms. This is all done for visitors/tourist and residents to attend. Everyone wears patriotic clothing and accessories in green, white and red. Traditional Mexican food is served such as tamales, mole, salsa and tortilla chips, tacos, arroz (rice) and guacamole. What makes this celebration extra fun is the Mariachi music and folk dances, definitely bringing life to the party! Not in Mexico? No problem. Here are a few tips on hosting a Cinco De Mayo party of your own.
In the United States this is more of a day to celebrate the Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo is surprisingly celebrated more around the U.S. than in Mexico. This day gives people in the US a chance to celebrate like Mexicans do! Are you planning to have a Cinco de Mayo party this year? Here are a few ideas for a fun Cinco de Mayo fiesta!
Cinco De Mayo Decorations
Use a very colorful scheme when decorating. Colors such as yellow, blue, purple, orange and green, white and red are perfect for this occasion. This is a very happy culture so pretty much any bright color will look great!
Often crepe or tissue paper is used to make decorative pieces to hang on walls or ceilings. These are known in Mexico as “papel picado”. If you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive way to add character to the fiesta, this is it! Not only inexpensive, but very easy to make! All you need is patience and a little imagination.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Crepe or Tissue Paper (variety of bright colors)
- Scissors
- String or tape to hang
Directions
Step 1: Cut the paper to about “letter” size (8×10)
Step 2: (This step is optional) Draw or print template of design on a blank piece of paper.
Step 3: Select a variety of colors and stack them. You’ll be able to make more banners at a time.
Step 4: Place template (if available) on top of crepe or tissue papers.
Step 5: Fold papers down the middle. Make sure the template is in front of all papers. This is the first thing you want to see when papers are folded.
Step 5: Start cutting!
Step 6: Unfold the papers and…voila! You’re done.
This is a great activity to do with family and friends!
Spice It Up with Your Food
The traditional foods to eat on Cinco de Mayo are tamales, tacos and mole. Tamales and mole are not easy to make so make a taco bar so everyone can make their perfect taco.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Flour and corn tortillas
- Fillings (beef, meat, chicken, turkey, etc…)
- Variety of Salsas
- Guacamole
- Dips
- Beans
- Taco shells
- Salad (lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, cheese, onions, etc.)
You can have as many ingredients as you like. The options are limitless.
Traditional Music
What’s a party without music? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with some Mariachi.
Mariachi is the most traditional type of Mexican music! Singers like Vicente Fernandez and Alejandro Fernandez are most known for singing with Mariachi. Maybe even search for a local Mexican band in your area.
A Cinco de Mayo fiesta is all about enjoying the Mexican culture. Gather with your family and friends and enjoy a delicious Mexican fiesta.
Let’s Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco De Mayo is almost upon us! What party plans are you making for the holiday?
Holiday Origins
For those who don’t know, Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the 5th of May. The holiday actually began in Mexico after the Battle of Puebla, where French forces invaded Mexico and were defeated (albeit briefly) by a much smaller and less well-equipped Mexican army. The victory was so unexpected and so impressive that the May 5th, 1862 became a date to celebrate. Over the years, it has lost traction in Mexico and is mostly only truly celebrated in the town of Puebla itself. Other parts of the country may recognize the date, but festivals and parades are things of the past. Even so, the holiday lives on in America as a day to celebrate and honor Mexican heritage.
An American Celebration
But, wait. If this is a Mexican holiday, why is it celebrated in America? That question has a lot of different theories surrounding it, but no solid answers. The most popular theories are:
- When the holiday first began, it was a huge deal in Mexico. As more and more people immigrated to America, they brought the love of the holiday with them. Although the holiday’s popularity waned in Mexico over time, the tradition stayed strong in America.
- The French invasion happened during a point in the American Civil War when the South and General Robert E. Lee were enjoying some degree of success. People surmise that Napoleon III’s plan was to take Mexico and use it as a staging area to support the South and remove the Northern blockades around the Gulf of Mexico. The Battle of Puebla was a victory that stood as a symbol of France’s inability to enact their plan. If France had been successful, the fate of the U.S. could have been very different.
The truth is, there is no definitive reason. Whyever it happened, the holiday caught on and now it’s as much a part of American culture as St. Patrick’s Day.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Today in most Mexican-American communities, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage, ethnic consciousness and community solidarity. But like St. Patrick’s Day, it’s been taken up by those who have no connection to the heritage of its origins at all. For everyone else, it’s a fun reason to sit around with friends, eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer. And isn’t that what any good holiday does? Actually transcend its [Read more…]
How to Plan & Decorate for Cinco De Mayo
Cinco De Mayo is a spanish holiday held on the 5th of May each year, and celebrates the Mexican army’s’ victory over French troops in the Battle of Puebla. However, for many it is simply a day to celebrate the mexican culture.
Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With Style
Parties are a great way to get together and celebrate, but how does one go about decorating for this holiday? Why not celebrate with a festive fiesta. Here are a few tips to help plan and decorate for this holiday:
- Be festive with some brightly colored party invitations with the word “fiesta” printed on them.
- The Spanish are all about bright colors, so choose some brightly colored tablecloths and bowls. These are good for chips, salsa, and other finger foods.
- Don’t forget photo props! A fun way to keep guests entertained is with a homemade “photo booth.” Just grab some small banjos, guitars, maracas and sombreros to create that Mexico feel. Provide cheap, disposable cameras for guests to take pictures on, and have them create copies of the prints for you to keep in a keepsake album.
- It wouldn’t be a fiesta without some lively music. Play tropical, Spanish style music to create a beachy, party environment.
Parties and celebrations are fun no matter what the occasion! Just remember to spice up the party with tasty foods, sweet beverages, entertaining music, games, and fun things to do. You’ll be the best party host ever!
Host A Festive Cinco De Mayo
With so many wonderful events & holidays coming up, we can’t forget about Cinco De Mayo, which is on May 5th. This is a wonderful time to host a themed party. There are so many great ideas to put into this party. Plus, this is just an all around great party theme to host. So, Wedding and Party Network has a few tips and ideas to make your Cinco De Mayo party a festive hit!
What exactly is Cinco De Mayo? It is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride and to commemorate the freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the city of Puebla, it is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over French forces. It’s definitely a day of celebration.
Festive Party Decor – When you think of Cinco De Mayo, you immediately think of the colors, red, green & white. It should definitely be bright, colorful and festive. This party is great to host outdoors. Therefore, get tables and set them up right in your own backyard. Next up, find table cloths to cover the tables.Find them in bright & festive colors and even mix and match the patterns up.
Next up, you need centerpieces for the tables. Think fun and festive for these centerpieces. Take a trip to your local florist and tell them what type of party you are hosting. They will definitely be able to come up with some festive centerpieces. Don’t forget to add festive party lanterns, candles, tiki torches, colorful pendants and string lights throughout the trees. These party accents will definitely give the vibe of a festive party. Also, don’t forget the sombreros!
What’s to eat? Along with the party decor, this party is definitely all about the food. There are so many options, yet it is so simple to prepare. Think about what you eat at a Mexican restaurant. Also, search for traditional Mexican dishes that are prepared for this holiday.
Start off by creating a taco/quesadilla/fajita bar all in one. All of these dishes require basically the same ingredients, so let your guests pick which ones that would rather have to eat. Feature a salsa bar with a variety of tortilla chips and guacamole.
Don’t forget to mix up the basics by serving carne asada & carnitas! To really mix it up and stay with traditional Mexican food, hire a caterer. They will have wonderful ideas and you can let your guests experience something new.
To finish off the night, don’t forget about the margaritas. There are a variety of flavors, so stick with the bar theme and have a margarita bar where your guests can create their own custom concoction.
This party is definitely a great one to host in your own backyard. It gives you a wonderful excuse to get all your friends together and have a big celebration.
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Cinco De Mayo- Fiesta Ideas!
Everyone looks for a good reason to celebrate. Cinco De Mayo is just such a reason. After all, commemorating independence is a wonderful reason to celebrate. Although Cinco De Mayo is the celebration of Mexico’s Independence from Spain, it has great significance to those in the United States as well. Mexico and the United States have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect the freedom and liberty of their citizens. This wonderful celebration can be enjoyed by anyone from anywhere. It all begins with an authentic Mexican fiesta!
Planning Your Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
- Invitations – Make them festive. You can buy invitations or create your own. Creating your own invitations can be fun and inexpensive. Whether you buy party invitations or create your own, make sure they are colorful and festive. Get creative with your designs. Use maracas, Mexican flags and the colors red, green and white as your part of your invitation theme since these are the national colors of Mexico.
- Decorations – Make them come alive. If you want to make this fiesta memorable, go over-the-top with your decorations! Include sombreros, Mexican colors (red, white, and green), colorful streamers and a lot of party balloons in your decoration scheme. The more bright and festive colors used the better.
- Food – Make it tasty & spicy. Food is the main attraction and the one thing everyone looks forward to at a party. Don’t limit yourself. Any type of Mexican food will be a star at this festive party. Think spicy, think flavorful when you plan the food selections. Chicken molé, tamales, tacos along with chips and salsas are pretty standard fare for a Cinco De Mayo celebration. Don’t forget the sweets. Cream cheese flan or sopapillas dipped in honey are great items for the dessert table.
- Entertainment – Make it active. Every celebration needs entertainment. Add excitement to the fiesta by incorporating activities as part of the entertainment. Teach your guests to do the macarena or have a piñata for the children. At any fiesta music is a MUST! Add a little musical spice by playing cumbia, salsa, or any latin music that you would enjoy.
- The Finale – Light up the Sky. In many countries, fireworks are a traditional way to end the celebration. Plan a firework demonstration for the end of the party.
Regardless of the decorations you choose, the food you cook, or music you play, a well planned fiesta is sure to be a great success!
