Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo means "fifth of May" in Spanish. It is a national holiday in Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over the French army on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla.

In the United States Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican culture, just as Saint Patrick's Day is a day to celebrate Irish culture.

Clothes

Wear red, green, and white (the colors of the Mexican flag).

Mexico Folk Costume

The Mexican clothing of choice worn during Cinco de Mayo is called the charro. It includes a hat called a sombrero and a sparkly jacket. Women may wear skirts with ruffles that fluff out during dancing.


Sombrero Art Project
A nice art project for classrooms.

Make a Mexican Poncho
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by making this brightly colored poncho.

A mariachi guitar has a larger bottom than a standard guitar, think pear shape.

Mariachi Guitar art project

Mariachi Guitar art project for a Cinco de Mayo bulletin board.

Introduction to Mariachi Music

Make Make paper flowers from tissue paper at Bry-Back Manor. Printable paper patterns.

Video

Things to Do

Chocolate originated in Mexico. Make chocolate Mexicano. Melt 1 ounce of Mexican or other type of chocolate in 1 cup milk. If you do not have Mexican chocolate, add a pinch of ground cinnamon. Beat with an eggbeater until frothy.

Recommended Books

Cinco De Mouse-O! (Adventures of Mouse)
by Judy Cox

Yum! Yum! A delicious smell wakes up Mouse on the fifth of May!

He follows his nose down the street to a Cinco de Mayo festival. High up in a tree he spies a piƱata magnifica. If only Mouse could get just one piece of candy from it. But look out! Cat is on the prowl. He is planning a fiesta of his own, and Mouse is on the menu.

Sprinkled with a few words in Spanish, this Cinco de Mayo adventure is a great read-alound for pre-school and kindergartners interested in other cultures or in sharing their own. The art is appealing and kid-friendly and filled with energy.

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo: Fiesta Time! (Learn to Read Read to Learn Holiday Series)
by Sandi Hill

Explains the meaning behind Cinco De Mayo, the Mexican independence day.

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