Cinco de Mayo
Date: May 5, 1862
History and Purpose
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for the fifth of May celebrates the defeat of the French army during the battle of Puebla (Batalla de Puebla) in Mexico on May 5, 1862. It is not to be confused with the country's Independence Day.
Activities and Traditions
Cinco de Mayo is mainly observed in the Mexican state of Pueblo, where parades with people dressed in costumes are held to celebrate the day. Reenactments of the Battle of Puebla also take place in other parts of Mexico, including Peñoñ de los Baños in Mexico City, where the day is celebrated by people originally from Puebla.
Traditional Foods and Drinks
Traditional foods and drinks that one would often have on Cinco de Mayo would be enchiladas, tamales, and flautes all washed down with dressed up Margaritas (usually incorporate the Mexican flag into the drinks).
Costumes or Festive Attire
For this event they usually have Mariachi bands or some Mexican folk music. Very colorful dresses would be worn by the women with a bunch of flowers ribbons and feathers while the men would wear sombreros. There would be a lot of swinging and dancing at this festival.