I love getting together with my cute family, and we had a blast prepping for this fun Cinco de Mayo party! Delicious food, cute and easy decorations, great company – that is where it’s at! We started celebrating Cinco de Mayo several years ago. As I have mentioned before, I served as a missionary for my church in Sacramento, California and learned the Spanish language while serving the Latino people. It was a ton of work and not the easiest thing I have ever done, but I learned so much and met so many amazing people! I have always teased that I am Mexican at heart. I love the food and can eat some heat, I love the kindness of the people and the warmth of the culture, and I have so many Mexican friends where I felt like I just fit in.
Cinco de Mayo litterally means “the 5th of May”. Many people tend to think that it is the most important day of the year for Mexico, their independence day, but their Independence day is actually on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is observed to celebrate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory in a battle against the French back in 1862- The Battle of Puebla. They say that the Mexican army consisted of about 4,000 soldiers, while the French had 8,000 – their odds were not that great, and yet they were victorious and rid their country of the French rule they had been under for about 3 years. This victory brought unity and pride to its people and has been compared to the story of David defeating Goliath. I love learning from history – especially when the little guy being bullied came out victorious!
AND who doesn’t like to have an excuse to eat Mexican food? I mean really?
Meg was awesome and made our backdrop and garlands. Aren’t they adorable? The traditional piñata burros are so cute and I love the different bright colors! She has a tutorial and the SVG FILES to use with your Cricut for both the burro and the pendant of the Papel Picado. She also added a fun fringe to the bottom of the fabric that resembles the fringes on a piñata.
Papel picado which literally means “pecked paper” is a decorative banner where the tissue paper is cut into elaborate designs. The designs are true art – they use a guide and small chisels and they can create as many as forty banners at a time. Papel picado can also be made by folding tissue paper and using small, sharp scissors. In Mexico they use these as decorations for most any celebration – bust especially for The Day of the Dead in November.
I made this fun free printable that made a perfect centerpiece – Fiesta like there’s no mañana, “Party like there’s no tomorrow”. I did a 12 X 18 that was a few dollars to print at Costco photo. I also have a 5 X 7 if you want to give some small ones away. Remember it is completely FREE to download our printables. Just click on the link, it will ask you if you would like to make an account, you don’t have to, just click “No Thanks” and it will take you right to the printable to download.
We had a fun set up and some awesome food!
We had these delicious Shredded Beef Tostadas along with my Easy Spanish Rice and my yummy Homemade Re-Fried Beans. So yummy!
I had to get some Jarritos a soda made in Mexico – found at Wal-mart or your local Latino market. Drinking this soda out of a bottle just makes things that much more delicious!
We also made these super fun Personal Piñatas for the kids to have their own party favors.
Then we had some yummy fried ice cream cones for dessert! My mom went to pick it up at her local Smiths and they did not have it there. She asked an associate for help and they found it for her at another location and ordered some for their location. Gotta love Smith’s customer service!!
I love having something to celebrate and get my family together! Being together and making memories is the best part of family.
How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
See the Happy!
Looks like so much fun!! Now I want to party!
Parties are always a good idea! So much fun and great memories made!