Cindo de Mayo is a day full of fun. There will most likely be events everywhere you turn this Cinco de Mayo weekend. However, if you want to host an impressive fiesta, take note of our tips.
The history of Cinco de Mayo:
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. It is often a huge misunderstanding that this holiday is Mexico’s Independence Day. Mexico’s Independence Day is actually celebrated on September 16.
Cindo de Mayo means May 5, which is the date is it celebrated. Mexico’s independence day actually came to be more than fifty years before Cinco de Mayo.
This misunderstood holiday commemorates the incredible victory over the French forces on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. It all began because Mexico had trouble paying back war debts to European countries. French forces went to Mexico to collect those debts and battled.
Although it was a day of victory for Mexico, it has arguably become more of an American holiday. Most non-Mexican Americans have no clue how the holiday came to be.
For some Mexicans, Cinco de Mayo is a reminder of how many times Mexico has been invaded. Yet, this day was a hopeful, victorious day for Mexico. This is what makes Cindo de Mayo a joyous, upbeat holiday.
This holiday was not introduced to the United States until the early 1960s. When Mexican-American activists were entrenched in the country’s civil rights moment, they used the day as a source of pride. Cinco de Mayo did not become well known until ad campaigns by Modelo and Corona introduced the holiday in 1989.
The ad campaigns originally target Latinos but were later broadened with print and TV advertisements. According to consumer reports, Americans bought more than $600 million worth of beer for Cinco de Mayo, 2013. This is more than the Super Bowl or St. Patrick’s Day.
Instead of losing the origins of this entertaining holiday, aim to bring back its importance. Honor it as a day of civil rights and social just commemoration. Remember to always respect other cultures, but you can do so while having a few margaritas and tacos.
Popular Mexican foods to have at your fiesta:
Tacos al pastor is a traditional Mexican dish. Tacos al pastor translates into the style of the Shepard. These tacos are made of thin strips of pork slices off a spit. The pork is placed on a corn tortilla and topped with onions, coriander leaves, and pineapple.
If you went grocery shopping too far in advanced and are left with stale tortillas, fry them up. Tostadas really just means toasted. To make tostadas for your celebration, fry your tortillas in boiling oil, or broil them after drizzling oil on top until the tortillas become firm and crispy.
Tostadas are either served alone or finished off with a pile of toppings. Frijoles are a popular topping choice. They are just refried beans. Add cheese, meat, seafood, or ceviche for a flavor blast.
For easy-to-eat party food, serve Elote. This is a flavorful and beautiful savory treat. Elote is corn on the cob, which is what it translates to, just stuck on a skewer for ease. It is smothered with salt, chili powder, lime juice, butter, queso fresco, and sour cream or mayo. Top with a generous amount of cilantro for added flavor and color.
Of course, you can never go wrong with fresh guacamole, which is mashed avocado, lime, garlic, red onion, cilantro, and sometimes corn. Serve this colorful dip with yellow and blue corn tortilla chips. This one is a hit amongst all ages.
Drinks with tradition and style:
There many non-alcoholic and alcoholic drink options that will make your tastebuds go wild. Here are the top drinks to serve on Cinco de Mayo. We will begin with one of the most popular drinks, margaritas.
Margaritas do not have to be served just one set way. They can be served on the rocks, on ice, or blended with lime juice, triple sec, and tequila. Avoid store-bought mixes at all costs. Treat your guests to something more vivacious.
Margaritas can come in flavors of mango, pomegranate, and passion fruit. The possibilities are nearly endless. Rim with a colorful dyed salt for an easy garnish.
In Part Two, we will share more drink options as well as easy ways to decorate. Contact BobbyMark’s Designs for their exquisite event planning services. Make this Cinco de Mayo respectful and celebratory!
Staff Writer
