Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May in Spanish) celebrates Mexico's triumph over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While it is not a public holiday in the United States, it's a day to celebrate Mexican-American culture and heritage. Many metropolitan cities host large parades and parties featuring traditional foods.
Many Cinco de Mayo traditions center on food and drink. So, you'll find some of the best bargains at local family-owned restaurants and national chains. Also, check out major retailers for Cinco de Mayo sales.
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To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Chili's restaurant offers $5 dine-in drink specials. Options include draft imports, Cuervo Blue ‘Rita, Frose ‘Rita, and Presidente Margarita. Some locations also host a scavenger hunt. Look for strategically placed pinatas with $500 gift cards and Cinco de Mayo swag inside.
Occasionally, Chipotle offers a Cinco de Mayo trivia game. During the week leading up to Cinco de Mayo, customers can win coupon codes and gift cards.
Taco Bell offers one-day Cinco de Mayo menu items and has featured an at-home taco bar to feed your own party of six.
If there is a Blaze Pizza in your area, look for pizza deals. Sometimes, the chain provides a free drink with the order. Periodically, the restaurant offers free delivery on Cinco de Mayo.
Select Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants offer select margarita options to celebrate the occasion.
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Eating and drinking aren't the only ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Honor the day by taking advantage of these low-cost opportunities.
You don't have to leave the country to learn about Mexican culture. Take a trip to a local library and discover how Mexicans have contributed to U.S. music, art, sports, fashion, politics, and more. Expand your appreciation by visiting local Mexican art museums and cultural centers. View various paintings and artifacts.
Search around town for Battle of Puebla reenactments. Participants wear military costumes to act out the battle between Mexican and French troops.
Styles like Jarabe and Folklorico are a huge part of the Cinco de Mayo celebration. Take steps to learn traditional dances like Jarabe Tapatio.
Check out your favorite bookstore for works by Mexican writers. Often local bookstores put together displays to showcase books by Mexican authors. Plus, you may snag a discount.
Cinco de Mayo activities are fun and extravagant. From trying out new recipes to making crafts, you can find plenty of things to do. Here are a few suggestions.
Have a feast of tamales, quesadillas, and tacos. Don't forget to try mole poblano, guacamole, plantain chips, and tres leches cake.
Join thousands of people on the streets to watch the Cinco de Mayo parade. Celebrations vary by city but generally include mariachi bands and dance performances. Check your local government website for activity details.
Cinco de Mayo is all about bright, festive colors. Generally, girls and women wear flowy multicolored skirts, ruffles, and flowers. Boys and men wear colorful serapes.
Gather the kids to make banners, flowers, maracas, and pinatas. The projects are fun and easy to make.
Use websites like History.com as a resource to learn about Cinco de Mayo and Mexican culture.
Cinco de Mayo observes the date (May 5, 1862) when the Mexican army defeated invading French forces Napolean III sent to expand his empire. People often confuse the date with Mexican Independence Day, which is on September 16th.
After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810, it experienced political instability and economic hardship. To endure, Mexico borrowed money from foreign countries. In 1861, President Benito Juarez announced that Mexico would pause payments. Consequently, the Triple Alliance (France, England, and Spain) sent their troops to Mexico to seize the land. Later, Mexico worked out a new payment arrangement with England and Spain. As a result, the two countries withdrew their forces. France, however, saw an opportunity to take advantage of Mexico's misfortune. Under Napoleon III's rule, France continued its plan to take over Mexico.
With the United States engaged in a Civil War, and other nations refusing to help, Mexico was left to fend for itself. France had a well-trained army triple the size of the Mexican military. Still, the Mexican troops won the daylong Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
Here at CouponFollow, we recently took a survey about some popular Cinco de Mayo questions, and we also rounded up the best deals.
Luckily, we all remember at least one phrase from our days in high school Spanish class--nearly everyone we surveyed knew Cinco de Mayo is the 5th of May.
But, why do we celebrate the date? Most people (over 50%!) think Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. However, that holiday is actually not until September 16.
In our survey, 25% of people got it right: Cinco de Mayo is actually a commemorative event to highlight the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French under Napoleon III during the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Those who answered correctly were clearly paying more attention in history class than the rest of us.
But it’s really no wonder people have misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo: it’s become more of an American holiday than even a Mexican one. And the highlight of the holiday in most consumer’s eyes is the food and drink. Which may be why over 80% of people surveyed don’t think we should have the holiday off of work.
Maybe if the celebration was focused more on actual Mexican culture, we’d reconsider. But for now, all of us are stuck working the Monday after, no matter how much tequila we consume.
So now that you know the history, what do you want to celebrate with? 35% of people surveyed said: TACOS!
Luckily, there are a ton of discounts, freebies, and special offers scheduled for Cinco de Mayo this year, and we’ve gathered them all up below! Check back frequently for the latest and greatest deals.
There are a lot of people who like to celebrate Cinco de Mayo from the comfort of their home. If you fit this category there are lots of great delivery options for tasty Mexican food. If you want to get groceries to prepare your own fiesta you can use a delivery service like Instacart to get taco shells, salsa, and tequila delivered right to your door. You can currently use an Instacart promo code to get free shipping off your first order of $35 or more.
May 5th marks Cinco de Mayo each year. In Mexico, the city of Puebla (located 70 miles from Mexico City) plays host to several events. The town holds ceremonial events, military parades, and reenactments. In the United States, the event is more festive. People focus less on the Battle of Puebla and more on the accomplishments and experiences of Mexican-American people.
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that pays tribute to Mexico's victory over the French. The unlikely triumph at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, gave Mexicans a sense of pride. The first celebration took place in a small mining town in California. Once the Mexican miners learned the news, they held a party to celebrate. And as the word spread to other California towns, other cities had celebrations. The event gained popularity in the 1960s. Student activists promoted the story and held several events to express pride in their culture, thus launching the annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Cinco de Mayo literally means the 5th of May, which is the day it falls on each year.