Happy Cinco de Mayo mi gente! And if you didn’t know, it’s also Taco Tuesday. I know what you all are thinking: how dare the universe have Cinco de Mayo fall on a Tuesday and yet here we are stuck in the house with nowhere to go? But all hope is not lost! There are so many ways to authentically celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Mexican culture in all of it fullness – even during a quarantine. So let’s get this fiesta started!

Before considering how to celebrate, let’s review the importance of this holiday to ensure we are appreciating and not appropriating. Here are some Cinco de Mayo facts that EVERYONE should know before throwing back some tequila shots and tacos.

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence day.

Cinco de Mayo is not the day we celebrate Mexico’s glorious independence from Spain. We celebrate Mexican Independence Day on the 16th of September, so feel free to mark your calendars to celebrate with your fellow Mexicans later this year.

So why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Well since you asked so nicely, Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is significant because the French army was much larger and more prepared than the Mexican army. They had more weapons and men at their disposal, but the French still lost the battle to Mexico (though they did eventually win the war). The retreat of the French troops at the Battle of Puebla represented a great moral victory for the people of Mexico, symbolizing the country’s ability to defend its sovereignty against a powerful foreign nation.

Source: National Geographic

The anniversary of the Battle of Puebla was declared a national holiday referred to as “Battle of Puebla Day” or “Battle of Cinco de Mayo” by President Benito Juárez on May 9, 1862. However, it’s no longer considered a national holiday in Mexico. It is only an official holiday in the State of Puebla, where the battle took place!

As for the United States, Cinco de Mayo has been celebrated more often in the U.S. since President Roosevelt’s  “Good Neighbor Policy” was enacted in 1933. It was established as an attempt to improve relations with Latin American countries.

And last but not least, Cinco de Mayo became closely associated with the Chicano rights movement in the United States during the 1960’s and 1970’s, in part because Chicano activists identified with the victory of indigenous Mexicans over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla. It was used as a source of empowerment and motivation to push the Mexican and greater Latino community forward.

So today in the U.S., we observe Cinco de Mayo as a day of Mexican pride and solidarity!

Here are some ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo while appreciating Mexican culture:

    1. Support Local Businesses
      During this quarantine, tacos trucks and local Mexican vendors are still open and still trying to feed their families. For most of them – this is their only source of income. They are still risking their lives to bring us great Mexican food made with love. I am sure your local Mexican restaurant, taco truck or the old Mexican grandma on the corner selling tamales would love your support! Also, hit up your local panaderia (bakery) for fresh pan dulce!

    2. Salsa Dance Class
      Tostitos (that tortilla chip brand) is hosting “Salsa for Cinco,” a free online salsa dancing class for the entire country, directed by dance aficionados Mario and Courtney Lopez and partnering with @WeAreUnidosUS, to raise money for the Latino community impacted by COVID-19. No, Salsa dancing did not originate in Mexico. Yes,  it came from Cuba… BUT this is for a good cause. We are all in this together – entonces, vamos!The event is slated for 4pm PST/ 7pm EST today, May 5th, on Mario Lopez’s Instagram Live page (@mariolopez) — so be sure to join! Tostitos will donate $100,000 to kick off the program. And for every person who joins the livestream, the brand will donate an additional $5 in honor of Cinco de Mayo – up to $100,000 – for a combined total of $200,000. The funds will provide emergency cash assistance to 125 low-income Latino families struggling to pay for basic needs like groceries, diapers, medicine, rent and utilities.

    3. Cinco de Mayo Livestream Festival
      Altísimo Live is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Livestream Festival with your favorite Latino artists and celebrities in an effort to raise $3 million dollars for the Farmworkers Pandemic Relief – hosted by Eva Longoria and Enrique Santos! The livestream event will begin at 12pm PST/3pm EST and the live performances will begin at 4pm PST/7pm EST. You can DONATE HERE in support of our farm workers and front-line workers. Make sure to follow @AltisimoLive on Instagram for all the livestream action, full performance line-up and updates!

    4. Cook With Abuelita:
      Learn how to cook authentic Mexican food from this abuelita! Straight from her rancho in Mexico to your kitchen. She has a lot of great videos on her YouTube channel, De mi Rancho a tu Cocina (From my Farm/Ranch to your Kitchen). Toss aside that store bought non-sense (unless it’s from a Latinx-owned business, as we suggested in #1) and make some legit cuisine. It’s the real deal y’all!

    5. Cinco de Mayo and Chill
      Check out these movies, shows and documentaries about Mexican food and culture!

      1. Lorena, La De Pies Ligeros (Lorena, Light-Footed Woman) (2019) – Netflix
        This beautiful 28-minute documentary short tells the incredible story of Mexican runner Lorena Ramírez, who wins international ultramarathons in traditional dress and sandals. Lorena lives a pastoral life in the mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico as part of the indigenous Rarámuri community, also known as the Tarahumara. The Rarámuri are famed for their extraordinary long-distance running skills. The very word rarámuri means “light-footed.”

      2. Llévate Mis Amores (All of Me) (2014) – Amazon Prime
        Las Patronas are a group of Mexican women who have worked for over twenty years providing food and water to the predominantly Central American immigrants travelling the length of Mexico atop La Bestia, a treacherous freight train whose name translates to ‘The Beast’. Llévate Mis Amores brings the tireless, selfless work of these women to the fore, shining a light on humanity and love in their purest forms. Also, this documentary received 100% on Rotten Tomatoes – in case you needed to be convinced!

      3. Taco Chronicles (2019) – Netflix
        Since it is indeed Taco Tuesday, what better way than to indulge in the history and origins of Mexico’s most emblematic cuisine – the street taco! The 6-episode series takes you throughout Mexico and Los Angeles telling the stories behind six iconic tacos. ¡Buen provecho!

      4. For a more comprehensive list, check out the article A Comprehensive List of Mexican-oriented Visual Media
    6. Donate or Volunteer
      Last, but definitely not least – Donate or volunteer with organizations that are fighting for immigrant and migrant communities, especially at the US/Mexico border. Remember, there are kids that are STILL in cages.

      1. Border Angels is a non-profit organization that is dependent on volunteers and advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice. This work is done in an attempt to reduce the number of fatalities along the US-Mexico border by educating and assisting the communities on both sides of the border. Services include free immigration and employee rights consultation, educational programs, water drops in the desert, day labor outreach, and Caravans of Love to Tijuana to support and aid migrants that are in need. IG: @borderangelsofficial

      2. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Our commitment is to protect and defend the rights of all Latinos living in the United States and the constitutional rights of all Americans. The MALDEF is working to bring social change within communities through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. IG: @maldefian

      3. Border Kindness began in the fall of 2018 as a direct response to the “migrant caravans” leaving impoverished Central American countries on a quest for a better life. They have provided asylum-seekers, migrants, refugees, and the displaced with comprehensive services that include food, shelter, clothing, medical care and legal services. Their programs and interventions are designed to identify, protect and nurture the most vulnerable including women, children, elderly and families. Today, Border Kindness remains the ONLY humanitarian aid organization operating in Mexicali, Mexico. IG: @borderkindness

      4. For a more comprehensive list, check out the article Latino Organizations To give back To.