Thank you to El Monterey for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to share how we celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
My home is made up of a variety of ethnicities. My origins span from both Native Americans and German where as my husband’s is Mexican and Norwegian. I often joke with the kids when the ancestry subject is brought up in school that we are the true mutts of the US, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Though in all honesty, aren’t we all?
One of the celebrations that we observe is Cinco de Mayo. We focus on the education and family meal vs than a full day of festivities. Keeping it light and fun while still staying true to our roots.
Bight colors often line our kitchen table during Cinco de Mayo. From flowers and place settings to food offerings including El Monterey Taquitos and fresh vegetables, it is truly a time that will make you smile the moment you enter the room. While much thought goes into each detail, the layout of finger foods and friendly chat is what truly makes the moment memorable.
For those of you like me who might not have the skills to create everything by hand, there is no reason to worry. Often you can find a great selection of frozen Mexican food in your local grocer. Most of the time, these meals take little preparation and are tasty enough to be requested again and again.
During the meal a story is often told. Educating our children that Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico. In Puebla the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla. This day is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. A wonderful day it was in their history. We see the day as a source of pride and a way to honor our ethnicity.
Celebrating our history is an important part of our family life, even though there are so many aspects to it. We want our children to understand where they came from including the struggles and joy that occurred along the way. In doing so, I can hope that they carry this information with them though their life and it makes them grateful for what they have and inspires them to greatness!
What events do you and your family celebrate?
