Cinco de Mayo — what it is and how you can celebrate
Learn about the history of Cinco de Mayo
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Cinco de Mayo is almost here! If you couldn’t tell by the name, the holiday is on Sunday, May 5. It’s all about celebrating Mexican-American heritage in various ways like attending parades and eating authentic Mexican cuisine. Here’s a primer on Cinco de Mayo, including what it is and what you need to celebrate.
What is Cinco De Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage. While some erroneously believe it to be a celebration of Mexican independence, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, a pivotal battle in early Mexican history. Though it's not about the country’s independence from Spain, it can still be seen as a celebration of Mexican independence, as the country’s success against France in the Battle of Puebla helped curb Napoleon III’s aims to make Mexico a part of the French empire.
Cinco de Mayo is observed by Mexican diaspora as a way to connect with their heritage. On this day, people celebrate by attending parades, eating Mexican cuisine, shopping from Mexican businesses, and more.
When is Cinco De Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo’s date is in its name: it is Spanish for “Fifth of May.” Thus, Cinco de Mayo is May 5, which falls on a Sunday this year.
Cinco de Mayo history
Cinco de Mayo is centered around the Battle of Puebla. Taking place on May 5, 1862, the Battle of Puebla saw the Mexican army successfully fight back the French army. Under the orders of Napoleon III, the French army invaded Mexico in 1861 in order to make the country a part of the French Empire.
Who celebrates Cinco De Mayo?
Cindo de Mayo is primarily celebrated by Mexicans and the Mexican diaspora.
How to celebrate Cinco De Mayo?
Attend a parade
Parades are a common way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. You might be surprised to learn that there’s a parade near you. We definitely recommend you take part in the revelry.
Keep your feet comfortable with these sustainable shoes.
Depending on how long the procession is, you’ll want to consider getting a pair of shoes designed for walking. After all, there’s nothing worse than being on your feet all day wearing shoes that aren’t up to the task. Allbirds has a variety of eco-friendly shoes that are made for walking, such as their Wool Runners. Better yet, you can get Allbirds shoes for 40% off right now if you act quickly.
Stay hydrated at the parade with our favorite water bottle.
With the weather growing increasingly warm, it’s more important than ever to drink water often to stave off dehydration with our favorite water bottle, the Owala Freesip. We love this water bottle because it sports a spill-proof lid, offers multiple ways to drink, and it keeps water cool for up to 24 hours.
Learn about Mexican history
The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862. It was a pivotal victory in early Mexico, helping bolster Mexicans’ will to fight for their young country and solidifying its legitimacy on the world stage.
Read an e-book about Mexican history.
Spend Cinco de Mayo learning about the battle it’s named after as well as other aspects of Mexican history. One way to do this is by reading a book, either physically or via an e-reader, such as our favorite, the Amazon Kindle. With its crisp display, and responsive UI, you’ll have no problem reading the countless e-books available on the platform.
Listen to audiobooks about Cindo de Mayo on Audible.
If you prefer learning about history by listening to it rather than reading it, we recommend an audiobook. Audible is by far the most popular audiobook service and we found it well worth the money thanks to how easy it is to use.
Support Mexcian businesses
Cinco de Mayo is observed as a celebration of Mexican heritage, so another great way to celebrate the holiday is by supporting those with said heritage. There are tons of great Mexican American-founded brands to shop.
Try SOMOS' delicious food like their salsa.
SOMOS is a Mexican food brand that sells salsa, rice, beans, and more. Heritage plays a big part in SOMOS’ conception, as it was created in by three friends who missed authentic, homemade Mexican cuisine after moving to America. Not only does the site feature delicious ingredients, but also the recipes to use those ingredients in. Just browsing the site makes our mouths water.
Cook up food for Cinco de Mayo wearing our favorite apron.
To cook your new ingredients, we suggest you shop at Hedley & Bennett, which sells all sorts of cooking gear, from oven mitts to aprons. Hedley & Bennet was started by Ellen “EB” Marie Bennett, a half-Mexican, half-English professional chef who wanted to create a durable apron. And given that her company’s All Day Crossback Apron holds the crown of our favorite apron, we’d say she succeeded.
Check out Bella Doña's products like these earrings.
If you’re looking for a style brand to shop for Cinco De Mayo, look no further than Bella Doña. It’s a brand made by and for Mexican American women and offers a variety of products from jewelry to bags to crop tops.
Support Mexican artists
Shop artwork from Mala Hora.
Put up art by a Xicanx creative this Cinco de Mayo with prints from Mala Hora. Mala Hora (Spanish for “the witching hour”) is the art studio of Gabi, who looks for their family for inspiration in telling the stories they didn’t see represented in media growing up. Styles that Gabi dabbles in include surrealist art, hand-painted objects, and comic book illustrations.
Cook Mexican food
Our favorite air fryer can cook a variety of meals.
You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo by eating delicious, traditional Mexican food. If you’re looking to cook yourself, we recommend picking up an air fryer. Most of the top air fryers are versatile enough that you can use them to whip up something good, no matter what you have a craving for. This is the case with our favorite air fryer, the Ninja Speedi, which also functions as a rapid cooker. This Swiss Army Knife of kitchen appliances delivers meals quickly and is easy to use thanks to its intuitive controls.
Make your own guacamole.
Of course, as versatile it is, not everything in your kitchen can be whipped up in an air fryer. Case in point: guacamole. If you’re looking for chips or tacos, we recommend you make it yourself with our favorite mortar and pestle. Frieling Cilio Goliath Mortar & Pestle is the best mortar and pestle we’ve tested because it pulverizes food quickly and cleanly thanks to its tall sides. Plus, it’ll look gorgeous in your kitchen.
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