Cinco De Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is one of the most misunderstood holidays in the United States. Many people celebrate this day on May 5, but have no idea what it’s all about or think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. The origins of Cinco de Mayo are actually pretty straightforward.

How It Started
Cinco de Mayo literally means “the fifth of May”. It started as a celebration of the Battle of Puebla. The French sent a rather large army to invade Mexico in 1861 so that they could collect on some old war debts. As this army went through Mexico, the Mexican people had difficulties trying to defend themselves against the well-equipped French army. However, once they army got to Puebla, they found themselves being outmatched and the Mexicans in Puebla were actually able to successfully fight off the French army. After the French army left Puebla they were able to continue on and take over Mexico City. Because of the fact that the residents of Puebla were able to defeat the French on May 5, 1862 army even though they were the underdogs, the Mexicans decided that this win needed to be celebrated and Cinco de Mayo was born.

How It’s Celebrated Today
One of the interesting things about this holiday is that it’s actually more popular in the U.S. than it is in Mexico. One theory as to why this has happened is that many Mexicans that celebrated the holiday immigrated over to America and brought this tradition with them and it has been passed down to their families. Whether in Mexico or the U.S., Cinco de Mayo celebrations often times include parades and a lot of festivities. Many households make Mexican crafts to display around their house and eat traditional Mexican dishes.

Traditional Mexican Dishes
Authentic Mexican dishes include handmade tamales, guacamole, chiles rellenos, Mexican style street corn, camote (recipe below,) salsa roja, enchiladas and flautas. For dessert you might find churros, Tres Leches Cake, flan or arroz con leche. Check out some Mexican dishes that you can make for your family at www.tasteforcooking.com.

Experience The Culture Firsthand
There are some wonderful trips available to Mexico – our most popular vacations to the region visit the Copper Canyon. Larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon, this collection of six canyons is sensational. Situated in the north of the country in the Sierra Tarahumara, the scenic railway journey through the Canyon is the best way to see it. You can also hike, bike, drive and horseback ride here. A new aerial tram and a network of ziplines have recently opened to attract tourists. Cruise ships calling at the port of Topolobampo on the Sea of Cortez offer day trips into the Canyon if you’re up for an early start to your day.

Other popular Mexico vacations:
Mayan Ruins – On the Yucatan Peninsula you can visit many fascinating sites of Mayan civilization. See the temples and pyramids of Chichén Itzá and the once flourishing, walled city of Tulum. You’ll come across smaller sites as well like the one on Cozumel. Take a tour to the ruins from your hotel or cruise ship when you visit Cancun, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Playa del Carmen and other spots along the Riviera Maya.

Sea of Cortez – This peaceful marine area between the Baja Peninsula and Mexico is teeming with sea life. It’s an ideal area for a variety of eco-adventures at sea and ashore from bird watching to observing whales. During Baja Mexico cruises, expedition ships offer Zodiac excursions into the Gray Whale breeding lagoons of the Bahia Magdalena. Or how about naturalist-guided walks on uninhabited desert islands, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking? All are possible when visiting the region by land or cruise ship. Take a look at our featured Central America/Mexico tours.

Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in Mexico. It is a holiday that can be observed voluntarily. People celebrate the culture of Mexico, as they do the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and Germans on Oktoberfest. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin. From tacos to tamales, margaritas to enchiladas, restaurants will be filled with those celebrating Cinco de Mayo. We hope you all have an enjoyable May 5th.

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