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).
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 and Painted Ponchos
Nice art projects for classrooms.
Decorations
A mariachi guitar has a larger bottom than a standard guitar, think pear shape.
Mariachi Guitar art project for a Cinco de Mayo bulletin board.
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.
Sombrero Sequence Pre-1
Recommended Books
Cinco De Mouse-O! (Adventures of Mouse)
by Judy Cox
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 piñata 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.
Marco's Cinco de Mayo
by Lisa Bullard
