Cinco de Mayo Food and Traditions
Lots of residents in the US know a little bit about Cinco de Mayo. Some even celebrate it each year in one way or another. There are many who do not understand its history, however. If you were to ask an average American about why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, they will likely guess it is Mexican Independence Day. That is not right. Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16.
During the 1950s, the United States had a program called The Good Neighbor Policy that encouraged Americans to reach out to our neighboring countries. Cinco de Mayo was first introduced to Americans at this time. In the 1960s, Chicano activists made the holiday more visible as a method to inspire cultural pride among Mexican-Americans.
Through the following decades, this celebration kept growing with the “popular culture” movement. The commercialism of Cinco de Mayo finally pushed it into the mainstream, advertising it as a fun new holiday for food and alcoholic beverages. The correct meaning for this holiday, the victory over the French by Mexico in 1862, has gotten a bit watered down.
Becoming more of a mainstream holiday has exposed more Americans to the traditions of our Mexican neighbors. Their wonderful music, foods, and traditions have made their way into our lives. A large part of our society anticipates the Cinco de Mayo holiday each year.
Today, Cinco de Mayo is a great excuse to really indulge oneself into all things Mexican. Partygoers can dress in traditional bright clothing, decorate their homes with the Mexican flag, sombreros, and chili peppers, and have a lot of fun with the day. Kids learn about the holiday in school and bring home more interesting bits of information to share with their parents.
Some people plan big parties for the 5th of May. It is no longer a holiday just for the Mexican community. People from all ethnic groups join in the fun. Some communities have festivals and parades to help the celebration mood. In some big cities, the celebration has grown to large proportions. Los Angeles, New York and Port Huron, Michigan are sites of very large Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
For those who prefer to celebrate closer to home, it is easy to make their own preparations for the celebration. They may cook Cinco de Mayo food, put up decorations, and listen to traditional mariachi music. Private parties are almost as popular now as the public parties held in restaurants, bars, and communities around the country.
If you have ever been curious about some Mexican recipes, Cinco de Mayo is the perfect time to try them. Make some excellent food for you and your family to enjoy and share some of the culture of Mexico. Invite some friends over and have them bring snacks.
For those who like to go out, check out the local Mexican restaurants for menu specials and parties they may be planning. You can always go out for a great meal, margaritas, and dancing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If you prefer a quieter celebration, enjoy some home cooked tacos and pop Zorro into the DVD player. You do not have to do what everyone else does to celebrate.
MexicanFoodRecipes.org cooking Mexican food is easier than you might think find out just how simple it is to make your favorite Mexican food recipes at home in your own kitchen.
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