Cinco de Mayo is the annual celebration of Mexican culture – and how could you embrace México better than with plenty of tacos, margaritas & cerveza! But what is the holiday actually all about – and why have the festivities become a cultural phenomenon in the U.S ?

Why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated?

As some people are mistaken, let`s clear the facts. Even though it sounds like it, Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with mayonnaise – at all. It is also not a celebration of Mexican independence! In fact, the holiday celebrates a failed French invasion of the city Puebla in late 1861. The battle was more of symbolic importance for the Mexican forces, but the date marks a highlight to celebrate Mexican culture in the United States.

Is everyone in Mexico enthusiastic about the holiday?

No. Ironically, festivities in Mexico are not as big as in the U.S.! People in Puebla celebrate, but not nationwide. More so, Cinco de Mayo is no federal holiday, so for most people it is just a regular day like any other.

Why did Cinco de Mayo become so popular in the United States?

In the 60s, Mexican-American activists used this day as a source of pride. In recent years, beer companies like Corona and Modelo have commercialised and broadened Cinco de Mayo with print & TV ads, or even “Cinco de Mayo Countdowns”. “Chipotle” said it right “If you had to wait for Cinco de Mayo, to have a reason to eat tacos and drink margaritas, you are doing it wrong.” You can find a homemade margarita recipe below, to celebrate México today and every other day!

If you had to wait for Cinco de Mayo, to have a reason to eat tacos and drink margaritas, you are doing it wrong.

Ingredients (for 2 glasses)

• 120 ml tequila
• 60 ml lime juice
• 30 ml cointreau
• 200 ml lime lemonade
• optional: 1 tbsp. agave syrup
• Some salt & lime to garnish
• Crushed ice

Instructions

Mix the tequila, lime juice, cointreau lemonade, crushed ice and agave syrup in a shaker. Wet the rim of the glass with some lime juice. Twist and turn the rim in sea salt. Fill the tequila into glasses and garnish with a piece of fresh lime.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

(Even though you don`t wish it in Mexico!)