La Fiesta de Cinco de Mayo
Below you will discover ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, from making the perfect margarita to festivities at restaurants and bars.
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “Fifth of May“) is an interesting holiday. It commemorates Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican Army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, persevered in spite of being outnumbered and underequipped over Napoléon III’s French army. While the battle was fought in Mexico, it isn’t widely celebrated there. Even more perplexing, outside of Mexico, it’s often confused with Mexican Independence Day—which actually falls on September 16.
So, why is Cinco de Mayo such a big deal north of the US border? The celebration began in California in 1863 as a symbol of solidarity with Mexico against France.
by Meryl Pearlstein
FOOD
DRINKS
No Cinco de Mayo celebration would be complete without some sort of margarita. Traditional versions with fresh lime are always welcome, but these variations from brands go beyond the expected without requiring impossible-to-find ingredients.
TRAVEL
• Latitud 32 at El Cielo Winery| Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
• Mijo | Durango Casino & Resort, Las Vegas, NV
Guacamole Recipe – Watch the video
Prep your home with the red, white and green colors of the Mexican flag using bandanas, towels, streamers or whatever you have on hand. Involve the kids in making a piñata that you can fill with candy or small toys. Balloons—any colors—work just fine.
