When Americans hear Cinco de Mayo they are often thinking, “Oh, Mexican Independence Day”. I know this to be especially true because when I asked my grandmother for ideas of holidays to blog about she suggested “You could blog about Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day!” I decided I would look into it, Cinco de Mayo is actually the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla not Mexico’s Independence Day! According to Britannica.com, “Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16. The latter holiday was established in 1810, some 50 years before the Battle of Puebla occurred.” The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862.

Like all holidays Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in a variety of ways. In Mexico, they celebrate with patriotic clothing and traditional mexican food sold by vendors. They also celebrate with reenactments of the Mexican Army’s defeat over the French in Puebla, the city that the original battle took place in. In the United State you will find celebrators partying with friends and families, listening to mexican folk music, dancing, and eating foods such as enchiladas and tacos. There are even a few special traditions in other places. For example, in the Cayman Islands an air guitar competition is held annually on May fifth. Another unique tradition takes place in Vancouver, Canada, in which they host an annual skydiving event. This year Cinco de Mayo will be on a Tuesday, Tuesday May 5, 2020. How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year?

P.S. Check out this fun, easy recipe for Watermelon Paletas, a special treat that can be eaten on Cinco de Mayo or any day of the year. 😉

*Recipe found at allrecipes.com

Watermelon Paletas – makes 10 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of grated lime zest
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 4 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh mint

Directions:

1. Mix water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Blend sugar syrup, watermelon, mint, lime juice, lime zest, and salt in a blender until liquefied, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into 10 ice pop molds.
3. Freeze paletas for 2 hours and insert wooden sticks or handles into the molds; return to freezer and freeze until solid, 12 to 24 hours.

Nutrition Facts:

Per Serving: 58 calories; 0.1 g fat; 14.8 g carbohydrates; 0.4 g protein; 0 mg cholesterol; 59 mg sodium.

Resources:

“Cinco De Mayo Traditions.” Punchbowl, Punchbowl Inc., 2020, www.punchbowl.com/p/cinco-de-mayo-traditions.

Lynch, Danielle Walquist. “Watermelon-Mint Paletas Recipe.” Allrecipes, Allrecipes.com, 16 July 2012, www.allrecipes.com/recipe/223490/watermelon-mint-paletas/?internalSource=staff%2Bpick&referringId=1217&referringContentType=Recipe%2BHub.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Cinco De Mayo.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 8 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Cinco-de-Mayo.