How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party

Although one of more than 300 minor festival days in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo in the United States is an occasion to celebrate all things Mexican. Grab your sombrero, mix up a batch of margaritas, and read on to learn how to throw a Cinco de Mayo party that will leave your guests shouting "Olé!"

Cinco de Mayo is not a major holiday in Mexico. Often confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16, it commemorates the Battle of Puebla where Mexican forces defeated the French in a four hour battle in 1862. The anniversary of the battle is celebrated annually in Puebla. In 1967 some California college students instituted a Cinco de Mayo celebration as part of their efforts to convince their school to offer a Mexican studies program.

• Themed decorations set the tone for a party, getting the guests in the mood when they arrive. Think bright and colorful when decorating for a Cinco de Mayo party

1. Use the colors of the Mexican flag (green, red, and white) as the basis for your decorations.
2. Pinatas can be used as a decorations, or filled with trinkets to also serve as a game at the end of the party. If kids are coming, make sure to have one filled with candy.
3. Make tissue paper flowers in several sizes. Scatter large ones on the tables, and hand out smaller flowers to your female guests as they arrive. Make sure the small ones have extra wire, so that women can weave them into their hair.large for the tables, small for women to wear in their hair
4. Have sombreros available for male guests.
5. You can also find strings of Mexican-themed decorative lights, like chili peppers, cacti and sombreros. Using a string of red chili peppers with a string of green cacti, all you need is a plain string of white lights to have all three colors.

• The bar set up-up for a Cinco de Mayo party should include tequila, pitchers of margaritas and sangria, and Mexican beer. Include a colorful non-alcoholic punch, as well, for the designated drivers.

Other popular Mexican drinks include Horchata, which is Mexico is like a cold, sweet cinnamon rice milk. In other countries, it can include chocolate, vanilla, and sesame and be made from almonds or other nuts.

Another popular Mexican drink is Aqua Fresca. This is made from a variety of fruit steeped in ice water and served ice-cold. Melon, guava, tamarind, strawberries and all kinds of fruit may be used, one fruit or a combination. These are common all over the streets of Spanish-speaking countries world-wide, sold by street vendors. They are also sold in more authentic Mexican restaurants and grocerias in the United States. Horchata and Agua Fresca are non-alcoholic by nature, and appropriate for designated drivers or children who may be attending your Cinco de Mayo party.

• Set up a Cinco de Mayo buffet for the guests to graze on during the evening. Use a colorful table cloth, and present food in wicker napkins and terra cotta , or colorful pottery. You can sprinkle dried chili peppers around the table to add a decorative touch. Have several dishes of salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream available as condiments. If you have a Mexican market near you, you can also find authentic cheeses like Chihuahuan,Queso Blanco, or Queso Asadero to serve, shredded, as toppings. Foods that you may want to include on a Cinco de Mayo buffet include:

1. Burritos
2. Carnitas. This takes long, slow heat.
3. Chalupas
4. Chile Rellenos
5. Chimichangas
6. Enchiladas
7. Fajitas. A great dish to grill and serve as soon as it's done.
8. Flan
9. Mexican beans
10. Nachos
11. Pozole. This needs to cook quite a long time, so make sure you start it a day or two in advance. It is typically a holiday food because of the prep time.
12. Quesadillas
13. Refried Beans
14. Tacos
15. Tamales. Another traditional party food.
16. Tortillas. Look for "Masa flour" on the ingredient list, as well as "lardo", for the most authentic kind.

Mexican music includes mariachi, salsa, and tejano. You can select a few CDs at a local music shop, or download appropriate music from iTunes. Ask your guests if they have any Mexican music, and invite them to bring it along.

If you have a satellite TV service, you may have several stations of various kinds of Mexican or Latino music. This can be a good, trouble-free way to provide music for your party, especially if you have a house-wide music system or have your TV linked to your sound system. Some services have channels dedicated to salsa, or top Latino hits, or even Mexican party music. Check out the offerings of your provider's system before your party starts to know which channels you prefer.

• Step 1:Cinco de Mayo Decorations
• Step 3: Cinco de Mayo Drinks
• Step 4: Cinco de Mayo Food
• Step 5: Cinco de Mayo Music