Traditions and Celebrations: Cinco de Mayo

WHAT IS CINCO DE MAYO? –

Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate. It comes from Mexico. It happens on May 5. Cinco de Mayo means “fifth of May” in Spanish.

This special day honors an important battle in Mexico’s past. It celebrates that Mexico won.

The battle happened in 1862. French soldiers had charged into Mexico in late 1861. They marched to the city of Puebla. On May 5, 1862, a battle broke out. French soldiers fought Mexican soldiers.

The French had more soldiers. They had a strong army. They had better weapons. The French expected an easy win.
But the Mexican soldiers were tough. They fought hard and beat the French.

In Mexico –

More than 300,000 people go to Puebla every year for Cinco de Mayo.

Some dress as French or Mexican soldiers. On May 5, they put on a show. They pretend to fight. The Mexican soldiers always win. Then everyone celebrates!

The city has a parade with colorful floats. Folklórico dancers wear bright clothes. They dance in the streets. There are fireworks too.

People eat tasty food on Cinco de Mayo. A dish called chile relleno comes from Puebla. It is made from green chili peppers. The peppers are stuffed with cheese and then fried.

Many cooks enter contests. They try to make the best mole poblano. Mole is a thick brown sauce. It has spices, chili peppers, and chocolate in it. People pour the sauce over chicken, turkey, enchiladas, and more.

In the United States –

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo means something different. It is a day to celebrate Mexican culture. Mexican Americans and Chicanos show pride for their history.
Many U.S. cities have Cinco de Mayo events. People enjoy Mexican food and drinks. They dance and listen to music. There are salsa-tasting contestsand carnival rides. People display their low-rider cars in parades and car shows.

Food is a big part of the celebration. Tacos are a popular food. People also eat other Mexican foods. Ceviche, churros, and empanadas are a few of them.

Ceviche is raw seafood with lemon or lime juice. Churros are fried tubes of dough. The tubes are rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Empanadas are baked or fried dumplings. They are filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, or sweet fillings.

What goes well with Mexican food? Mexican drinks! On Cinco de Mayo, kids enjoy drinking agua frescas. The name means “fresh water” or “cool water” in Spanish. These cold drinks are made of water and fruit. Melon, pineapple, tamarind, and cucumber are common flavors.

Kids of all ages enjoy Mexican ice pops called paletas. There are many flavors to choose from. Try strawberry or coconut. How about chili, carrot, or shrimp?

Many women wear long dresses at Cinco de Mayo events. The dresses have bright colors. They twirl when the women dance. Men wear hats with wide brims. The hats are called sombreros.

Mariachi bands play. Mariachi is a kind of Mexican music. It is played by a group. Band members play violins, trumpets, or guitars. Some members also sing.