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Learn to honor Mexican culture and avoid cultural appropriation
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Celebrating Cinco de Mayo is a wonderful opportunity to honor Mexican culture. If you're looking for fun ways to participate in the holiday while also being culturally sensitive, you've landed in the right place! Below is a comprehensive list of festive ideas you can use to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and we'll also touch on a few things to avoid. Plus, we'll explain the history behind this holiday so you can share the real meaning of Cinco de Mayo with your friends and family.

Respectful Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Focus on the history of Cinco de Mayo to truly honor what the holiday is all about. Be respectful of Mexican tradition and avoid anything that reinforces cultural stereotypes, like wearing costumes or using fake accents. Eating authentic Mexican food and listening to traditional Mexican music are great ways to celebrate.

1

Learn the history of Cinco de Mayo.

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  1. Emperor Napoleon III, eager to establish a French stronghold in Mexico, commanded the French Army to start marching toward Mexico City. He sent a fleet ahead to attack, but the French army never made it there. A young Mexican general named Ignacio Zaragoza engaged the French troops at the city of Puebla and defeated them. This battle took place on May 5, 1862.[1]
    • Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's victory at the (first) battle of Puebla. It was a major morale boost for Mexico, but it didn’t end the war. Battles continued and the French invasion succeeded the following year.
    • Cinco de Mayo isn’t an official Mexican holiday, but Mexicans do commemorate the date. The victory in battle is the primary reason for celebration in Mexico.
    • In the United States, Cinco de Mayo focuses more on celebrating Mexican culture in general. American celebrations began in 1863 as a show of solidarity with Mexico against the French.[2]
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3

Put up colorful decorations.

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  1. You can incorporate those colors using streamers, balloons, flags, garlands, banners, tissue poms, and any other Cinco de Mayo party décor that you like! Because Cinco de Mayo festivals and parades tend to be very colorful, feel free to work in other vibrant colors like orange and yellow.[3]
    • Avoid stereotypical décor since that can come off as offensive. For example, decorating with sombreros and ponchos isn’t respectful (and neither is wearing them).[4]
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4

Eat authentic Mexican food from a Mexican restaurant.

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  1. Mole Poblano originated in Puebla, where the battle against the French took place. Find an authentic Mexican restaurant in your area, preferably one owned by Mexican-Americans that boasts an authentic Mexican chef, and order their Mole Poblano. If they don’t have that specific dish, try any Mole dish they have on the menu.[5]
    • Mole is a gravy-like sauce used as a filling and a topping in Mexican Cuisine. Mole recipes vary widely across different Mexican regions.
    • Celebrate in the workplace by ordering food from an authentic Mexican restaurant.
5

Make a traditional Mexican dish at home.

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  1. There’s so much more to Mexican cuisine than these familiar dishes, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying them as a way to celebrate Mexican culture! They’re delicious, kid-friendly, and a snap to whip up. Tortilla chips and salsa is another family favorite.
    • Make guacamole with avocado, onion, serrano pepper, and cilantro.
    • Whip up some tasty tacos. If you’re a vegetarian, feel free to omit the beef.
    • Try an easy enchilada recipe for your family to enjoy.
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6

Listen to traditional Mexican music.

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  1. If you’re able to get out and enjoy traditional Mexican music in a live setting, that would be a great way to celebrate! Mariachi music is a popular option, but there are two other types of traditional Mexican music you can explore: Norteño and Banda.[6]
    • You might tune in to a radio station or look up Spotify playlists that showcase traditional Mexican music.
    • Mexican-American musician Selena was known as the Queen of Tejano. If you aren’t sure where to start, or if you prefer music with a pop influence, you might look up some of Selena’s tunes.[7]
7

Attend a local parade or festival.

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  1. This is especially true in cities where there’s a large Mexican-American population (Denver, Chicago, Portland, etc.)[8] If your area hosts a festival, go soak up the culture! There will likely be traditional Mexican music, dancing, and plenty of delicious food.[9]
    • Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles is one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the world. If you’re within driving distance, this event would definitely be worth a road trip.
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9

Teach kids fun facts about Mexican culture.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What are the colors of the Mexican flag?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The Mexican flag is primarily white, red, and green. There is also an icon in the middle with several other colors in it (like brown, yellow, etc.).
  • Question
    What is the most eaten food on Cinco De Mayo?
    Nico
    Nico
    Top Answerer
    A few common foods eaten on Cinco De Mayo include tamales, fish tacos, Mexican street corn, and mole poblano.
  • Question
    How do I throw a fiesta?
    Nico
    Nico
    Top Answerer
    Serve salsa and/or toppings in large margarita glasses or mocajetes. Decorate the food with toothpicks in solid colors or Mexican flags, as well as mini papel picado banners. Fill a bowl with chips after elevating it with a cake stand. On serving trays, place a miniature Mexican-themed centerpiece.
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About This Article

Amber Crain
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it. This article has been viewed 361,309 times.
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Co-authors: 110
Updated: December 8, 2024
Views: 361,309
Article SummaryX

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, wear green, white, and red, which are the colors of Mexico. Additionally, decorate with green, white, and red streamers; a Mexican flag; or a fun piñata. You can also put together an online playlist of top Mexican hits or Spanish songs and learn to dance the salsa or rumba with family and friends. If you’re having people over, make and serve traditional Mexican food, like guacamole, salsa verde, or margaritas. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even cook traditional Sopes or chalupas for your guests. For more suggestions on how to put together the perfect Cinco de Mayo-themed meal, keep reading!

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