Happy Cinco de Mayo!! Many Americans love to celebrate this holiday.  It is a great excuse to have a taco party and drink some margaritas (just like St. Patrick’s Day is an excuse to go out to an Irish Pub and drink green beer).  If you are going to have a Cinco de Mayo party, Penless has got the perfect sticker to attach to your invitations.  You can make your own personal video inviting your guest to your party and upload that video onto a taco sticker.   This will add a festive touch to your invitations.  Even though we love to get together with friends and eat Mexican food, Cinco de Mayo is one of the most misunderstood Mexican holidays.

Many think that we celebrate May 5, since it is Mexico’s Independence Day.  That is actually not the case.  Mexican independence is celebrated on September 16.  Despite its commercialization, this holiday is of importance to many people.  What Cinco de Mayo commemorates is the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla.  Despite tremendous odds, the humble Mexican Army defeated the most powerful fighting unit in the world at that time. This Battle was in response to Mexico not being able to pay back war debts to European countries.

There are many ways people celebrate Cinco de Mayo around the world.  For example, in Mexico, there are parades that honor the soldiers and civilians who gave their lives in the battle for their country.  There are also fairs with food, music, rides, games, and dancing.  In a small neighborhood in Mexico City, there is even a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla to mark the occasion.  In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the traditional Mexican way.  The largest Cinco de Mayo street fair in the world is organized annually in Los Angeles.  The street fair consists of mariachis, folklorico dancers, piñatas, carnival rides, games, music, dance, and lots of food.  In Canada, they host an annual Cinco de Mayo skydiving event, complete with food, an air show and live music. One of the most unique of all the celebrations, is the Cayman Islands.  The annual air guitar competition is held at the local Hard Rock Café on May 5^th.

Having a Cinco de Mayo party is a great way to celebrate the past with friends and family.  Who doesn’t love guacamole, tacos, and margaritas!