MAIN Home Life Holidays Cinco de Mayo

In Mexico or wherever the culture of Mexico is celebrated — families, friends and neighbors gather to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

While it's popular to believe that Cinco de Mayo is an observance of Mexican independance, the festival actually celebrates an obscure victory of 4,000 ill-equipped Mexicans over 8,000 armed French invaders in 1862. The battle known as La Batalla de Puebla, The Battle of Puebla, took place on (you guessed it) May 5.

Today, all is forgiven, with fiestas planned in Mexico and in many communities around the world where Mexicans live. Watch for this year's festivities to kick off on Saturday, May 5, 2012 for a full weekend of Cinco de Mayo fun.

Even "gringos" who have little idea why they are coming to a Cinco de Mayo celebration are happy to commemorate the day, and to join in the fun and parties on May 5th.

Fiesta! - Mexican Theme Party Tips

To kick off your own Cinco de Mayo party, begin by decorating with plenty of traditional tissue paper flowers.

Add the colors of the flag of Mexico - green white and red - put on some Mexican music, salsa, mariachi or folk music, and have a fiesta!

Invitation Ideas - Invite everyone to the party with a cover page greeting with catchy headlines like: "No time for a Siesta, it's time to Fiesta!", "Margaritas & Fajitas!, or "It's Party Time, Amigos!" Inside, be sure to put the date, location, time, phone, RSVP date, dress code or costume suggestions.

Food - Corn chips with salsa & queso, tacos, chili, fajitas, mojitos, Margaritas, Daiquiris, cerveza, Mexican wines, Tia Maria, and, of course, lots of tequila.

Party Favor Ideas - Send guests home happy with goody bags filled with mini cactus plants, toy maracas, small clay pots with candy "Red Hots", bouquets of red, green & white carnations or other plants that combine the colors of the Mexican flag.

also see in the Party Ideas Blog -> Fiesta Party Games for Adults & Kids

More about Cinco de Mayo and Mexican fiestas around the Web:

Spice it up at some of the best sites offering up Cinco de Mayo Parades & Fiestas, along with everything you need for a great Cinco de Mayo fiesta celebration - including do it yourself party ideas, music Webcasts, recipes, e-cards, decorations, classroom activities. clip art, pictures, facts, and a bit of history about the 5th of May...

Cinco de Mayo Recipes, Margaritas, Fiesta Tips - Top of the line celebration party ideas from the Food Network with Cinco de Mayo facts, star chef recipes from Rachel Ray & Bobby Flay, related hot, hot, hot festive meals & how to's for cool Mexican cocktail recipes.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! - One-stop browsing how to make your own Cinco de Mayo decorations plus menu ideas, food & drink recipes, plus party activities to make sure your celebration is a real fiesta.

Tabasco Taste Tent: Cinco de Mayo - The American hot sauce company with a complete party menu & dozens of recipes for making other Mexican favorites including guacamole, quesidillas, Margaritas, Sangria and more...

Batanga - Latin Music Internet Radio - And what's a Cinco de Mayo fiesta without the musica? Pump up the volume and scroll down to mariachi ...

Cinco de Mayo Music Playlist - Dozens of popular songs just right to accompany the fiesta available for instant streaming. Also check out Cinco de Mayo Mix.

Inside Mexico - Cinco de Mayo - What's going on in Mexico with descriptions of traditional fiestas & parades, including related feature stories, recipes for your party, national holiday calendar of events.

Cinco de Mayo Ecards, Greeting Cards - A good assortment of animated, interactive greetings & ecards to celebrate the day...

Cinco de Mayo Clip Art - Images of cartoon chili peppers and maracas for personal Web page use.

If you have any Cinco de Mayo recipes that you'd like to share,
please add them to the Chiff Chef Recipe File...

Cinco de Mayo Parades, Fiestas & Events

also see -> Mexican Independence Day

Dia de las Muertas | Las Posadas

Mexico beaches | Mexico travel | Mexican wines