Cinco de Mayo, May fifth, is a popular Mexican national holiday that celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at a battle that took place on May 5, 1862. This infamous battle took place in a little town just south of Mexico City called Puebla. Mexicans celebrate this holiday great fervor and reverence demonstrated by elaborate celebrations and terrific fiestas. Shift dresses

Attending a traditional Cinco de Mayo festival means getting together with local community, family and friends for unsurpassable cuisine, music, dancing, games and a grand display of fireworks to top off the event. Most cities and many towns and villages put on holiday parades where men march with rifles and dress in traditional soldier’s garb; some even dress as the conquered Frenchman and sport wine bottles and loaves of bread in place of rifles. Many towns go so far as to perform reenactments of the long ago battle.

Music is a mainstay at these Cinco de Mayo celebrations. From traditional strolling mariachi bands to contemporary popular music groups—a wide range of musicians provide the core entertainment for the holiday. Mariachi bands feature guitars, trumpets and violins. Many marimba players also find eager listeners on this day as well as many traditional Indian performers who play native instruments like gourd rattles, wooden flutes and seashells. Dancing is also an important feature and travelers to Mexico will witness many performances on this day. Men and women, girls and boys can be seen decked out in Mexican national costumes dancing performing traditional dance. Costumes are generally bright and material flows as the dancers complete their turns, swirls and bows. Strapless dress

One of the most popular Mexican dances is the Mexican hat dance known in Mexico as the jarabe tapatio. Women performing this dance wear the traditional china poblana which is comprised of a red and green skirt bedecked with beads, a colorful sash and a short-sleeved blouse decorated with embroidery designs. This costume is named for a Chinese princess who was sold into slavery in Mexico; she wore this costume and dedicated the remainder of her life to helping Mexico’s poor. Backless dresses

Food often rivals the music and dancing for top billing during these festivities. Eating begins at the break of day for friends and family members who gather for the holiday feasting. Mexican cuisine is so rich and diverse at any time of the year, but on this day, cooks and vendors alike go all out with their culinary offerings. Mexico’s many regions will showcase their individual dishes of note; some special courses that might be prepared around Mexico include taco of colorin (coral tree), chichilo negro (famous on the Oaxacan coast), grilled tunas (prickly pears), tacos of carnitas (browned pork), quesadillas, enchiladas, etc…

There will be hundreds of various dishes served at these fiestas—all accompanied by chiles, of course in various culinary guises. Other special fiesta dishes typically prepared for special occasions consist of menudo blanco Sonorese (white Sonoran menudo), arroz verde (green rice), tortitas de camaron seco (dried shrimp fritters), ostiones en escabeche (soused oysters), chorizo verde (green sausage), vitualla (beef, rice and fruit stew), carne Apache (Mexican-style steak), as well as hot chocolate and fruit drinks and deserts like flan a la Antigua (traditional caramel custard), budin de limon (lime sponge pudding), cocada de pina (coconut and pineapple dessert), nieve de guayaba cone crema (guava ice cream). Alcoholic beverages also run the gamut but tequila is a Mexican mainstay; tequila is made from the sap of the spiky maguey plant.

Vendors specialize in Cinco de Mayo treats called antijios. These might be anything from ice cream with fresh fruit to watermelon slices sold on a stick. Corn is also a prominent snack and celebrates relish in many different snack items between meals in this occasion. One thing is certain—few ever go hungry on Cinco de Mayo.