0
How to celebrate a fiesta cinco de mayo (May 5) like in Mexico
In this article we will help you prepare for the celebration of cinco de mayo but before we do so, we will take you on a journey to Puebla and discover the true meaning of the festival. It must be said that it may no longer seem like a reason to celebrate, but all occasions are still good to eat Mexican meals in Quebec.
Every year, the cinco de mayo remains an opportunity to organize a small fiesta.
In this article, we will help you prepare for the celebration of cinco de mayo but before we do, we’ll take you on a journey to Puebla and discover the true meaning of the festival. It must be said that it may no longer seem like a reason to celebrate, but all the opportunities remain good to eat Mexican meals in Quebec.
The history of cinco de mayo
First of all, there are a few misconceptions about this day: mainly that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day and it is not. The country’s real Independence Day is celebrated on September 16. (To find out more, we talked about it in our article: 5 facts about Mexico’s Independence Day)
The Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican victory over France. The event is known as the Battle of Puebla. On May 5, 1862, against the French, 6,000 well-armed French soldiers sent by Napoleon III to Mexico City were defeated by 2,000 poorly armed Mexicans.
In Puebla, the cinco de mayo is the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla and continues to be essentially ceremonial with military parades or re-enactments of battles.
Elsewhere in Mexico, it’s a holiday like any other…
Elsewhere in the world, cinco de mayo is an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture.
Virtual trip to Puebla
Where is Puebla located?
The city of Puebla is about a 2-hour drive from Mexico City (map) and is located in the state of the same name, Puebla. The city, nicknamed the City of Angels, is surrounded by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains. With its 1.5 million inhabitants and 2.1 million inhabitants in the greater metropolitan area, it is the fourth largest city in Mexico.
Architecture
Puebla is a UNESCO World Heritage City. Puebla’s outstanding architectural features include the historic buildings in the city center designed in Renaissance and Baroque styles. The city is also full of colonial-era churches, such as the Capilla del Rosario masterpiece.
The city is distinguished by its colorful houses with colorful ceramic tiles called Talavera. Most of the settlers who came to Puebla lived in southern Spain, a region under Arab control until the end of the 15th century. Islamic architecture and the inspiration of the Moorish culture.
The origin of the Talevera in Puebla told by UNESCO (video)
The Zocalo
Essentially the place where the city was founded in 1531, the Zócalo is the central esplanade of old Puebla.
Stand in the center of the park with a 360-degree view and admire the cathedral that sits on the south side of the square, while to the north is the Palacio Municipal (City Hall), which is near a charming shopping arcade, the Pasaje del Ayuntamiento (you can walk there with Google’s “street view”)
The Chapel of the Rosary
The chapel (Capilla del Rosario) is located in the church of San Domingo and built in 1690. The walls and dome are completely covered with sculptures adorned with gold leaf.
Look inside with a 360-degree view… SPECTACULAR!
The cathedral
Built between 1575 and 1640, it has two of the tallest bell towers in Mexico.
Watch this aerial and panoramic view of this impressive cathedral
At night, the cathedral is just as resplendent.
The Amparo Museum
Two colonial mansions house the Museo Amparo, one of the country’s most prestigious museums, which documents 4,500 years of Mexican history. You can do a Virtual guided tour (in Spanish).
The forts of battle
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The forts of Loreto and Guadalupe are former military buildings from the nineteenth century. They served as the main stage during the Battle of Puebla. Declared a historical heritage of Mexico, they now house museums.
Take a virtual tour of the Loreto Fort Museum with Google.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row preset=”mpc_preset_288″ content_preset=”_mpc_preset_288″][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The Palafoxiana Library
Established in 1646, the Biblioteca Palafoxiana was the first public library in colonial Mexico and may well be the oldest in all of the Americas.
In a long room with ribbed vaults on the ceiling are carved wooden shelves, three stories high. They are loaded with 41,000 books, manuscripts and documents as original maps from the time of the conquistador Hernán Cortés in the sixteenth century.
Stand in the center of the library with this 360-degree view
The El Parian Market
The Plaza San Roque to the north-east of the Zócalo dates back to 1805 and was transformed in 1961 into a permanent craft market (Mercado el Parian).
More than just a place to shop for souvenirs, the Parian Market is a place where you can get in touch with Puebla’s traditional craftsmanship.
Dozens of stalls sell Talavera pottery, and Puebla is one of only five places in Mexico (four of which are in the state of Puebla) where these ceramics can be authentically produced.
Other handicrafts sold at the Parian market include leather goods, textiles, candles, tin, copper, and puppets.
Walk through the middle of this market with Google’s “street view”.
Then, you can also visit the nearby Barrio del Artista (Artists’ Quarter), which is home to galleries, art shops, and cafes.
The landscapes
The terrain is relatively rugged and is characterized by volcanoes, forests and fertile farmland. A few rivers and lagoons complete the landscape.
Mexico is known as a sun destination, but it is also an excellent destination for mountain hikes. Puebla is surrounded by 3 volcanoes (Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, La Malinche).
Virtual exploration of volcanoes
Join an expedition and virtually explore the summit of the Iztaccíhuatl volcano. (the third highest mountain in Mexico)
Observe the Popocatépetl from the National Park that surrounds it.
Celebrate like in Mexico
The Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Puebla begin with many citizens dressing up as French and Mexican soldiers and participate in the famous Cinco de Mayo parade (video). Then they gather in a field for reenactment. They do this with commitment and try to make the battle look more real. Because of this, there is always smoke, screaming, sword fighting, etc. (video)
When the moment when the Mexicans have won the battle arrives, everyone starts celebrating. They play traditional games, eat, listen to mariachi bands, and dance the day away. The whole city, the buildings, the streets, the lamps, everything is covered with colorful decorations. They remind everyone of the happiness and joy that come from the event they are celebrating.
To celebrate cinco de mayo elsewhere in the world, no re-enactment or parade, just the celebration (the best part).
Decorate like in Mexico
To add some color to your fiesta, making a papel picado banner is the perfect activity and kids love it.
Create a Papel Picado banner
Papel picado (“perforated paper”) is a decorative banner made by cutting elaborate patterns out of sheets of tissue paper.
They are often put together to create a banner that can be hung in the streets during all Mexican festivities.
Drawing and cutting out patterns on sheets of paper can seem childish. In Quebec, who hasn’t made a paper snowflake?
Except that the Mexicans have raised this craft to an admirable level. Several craftsmen still produce Papel Picado according to the purest tradition using chisels, hammers, lead plates and awls. .
It is a real work of craftsmen that is hidden behind these colorful banners (video)
For the pleasure of making a few sheets of it, you will only need a scissor. Get inspired by these tutorials that will teach you how to create your Mexican banner.
Video Tutorial 1 (with Chisel, Exacto and Punch — Spanish)
Video Tutorial 2 (Explained by Kids — English)
Video Tutorial 3 (Pretty Medium Intricate Patterns — Spanish)
Music like in Mexico
Banda, mariachi, norteño and ranchera are among the most popular genres today on the radio but other genres have developed such as huasteco, jarocho, grupera and tamborazo zacatecano.
Mexican rock bands obviously exist, as well as pop bands, alternative Latin bands, ska and electronic bands.
Spotify playlist
We’ve curated playlists to add some musical vibe to a fiesta!
Fiesta Atmosphere (24 tracks, 1 h 9 min)
Mexican Atmosphere for Couples (75 tracks, 4 h 30 min)
Contemporary Mexican Atmosphere (42 tracks, 2 h 43 min)
Genre: Mariachi (40 tracks, 2 h 14 min)
Genre: Banda (117 tracks, about 6 h)
Genre: Norteño (36 tracks, 1 h 49 min)
Genre: Ranchera (30 tracks, 1 h 51 min)
Genre: Huasteco (23 tracks, 1 h 9 min)
Genre: Jarocho (40 tracks, 3 h 27 min)
Genre: Grupera (223 tracks, about 12 h)
Genre: Tamborazo Zacatecano (50 tracks, 2 h 25 min)
Extra: La Voz Kids on Youtube
If you liked La Voix Junior in Quebec, you’ll like to discover 3 Mexican songs in our top 3 of La Voz Kids.
Isabel Sanchez canta “Cucurrucucu Paloma”
Ashley Acosta canta “La Cigarra”
Jesús “El jilguerillo de Tlaxcala” canta “Ay Chavela
Dancing like in Mexico
The Jarabe Tapatío
Although Lili knows how to dance well (it’s in her blood), we don’t give Mexican dance lessons. Let’s leave that to the professionals.
If you want to dance like in Mexico, watch and learn from these videos. Have fun! It’s in Spanish, but we bet you’ll understand…
A very cuatro back… A very cuatro back… Have fun and learnthe steps:
Or admire the professionals in show
If you want to know more, the article from this Latin dance company in Montreal sums up the history, the clothes and the music.
Eat like in Mexico
The Mole Poblano
Perhaps one of the most famous Mexican sauces, mole has an ancient history that dates back to the Mayans and Aztecs. This rich sauce, made with ground cocoa, spices and chilli, is deliciously well-balanced. Add some fresh cilantro or a little lime, and you’ll have Mexico on your plate.
Want to cook this complex sauce for yourself? Try this Mole Poblano recipe from a Montreal chocolate chef.
The Pastor Taco
One of the most delicious taco fillings is taco al pastor. Marinated pork is slow-cooked for several hours and is similar to shawarma or Turkish kebab meat.
This dish was first introduced to central Mexico in Puebla by Lebanese immigrants. Pieces of meat are cut into slices with a knife and served with onions, cilantro, and pineapple slices, which give the tacos a tangy flavor.
The pork version is the original, but many taquerías now offer variations with chicken. (This is the version that Lili cooks)
“All dress?” Did you know that in Mexico, when you want onions and cilantro in your taco, you ask the taquero “Con Todo” (with everything). This is the “All dress” filling of the taco.
Drink like in Mexico
In Mexico, we drink beer, cocktails, flavored waters, fruit spirits, mezcal, tequila and… Coca-Cola.
The aguas frescas
For the occasion, we suggest a pitcher of agua fresca. Sold by street vendors throughout Latin America, this non-alcoholic iced drink is made with water, fruit pulp, flowers or grains, and sugar.
Traditionally, they were kept in clay pots and placed in crates of moist soil to keep them cool. Nowadays, it is common to store them in glass containers, and that is why it is usual to add a little ice to keep them cool.
The most common are: Agua de Horchata, Agua de Jamaica, Agua de Tamarindo and Agua de Limón.
Among our range of ready-to-eat products, we have prepared a hibiscus syrup that will allow you to make 2 liters of agua de Jamaica easily and super quickly.
In the category of slightly alcoholic fruity drink, we also suggest tepache even if it is not an agua fresca. Discover this drink in our article “How to make Tepache (traditional fermented drink from Mexico)“.
Mexican cocktails
Are you the cocktail type? Did you know that our Hibiscus syrup is perfect for making cocktails like a margarita or paloma.
«Una cerveza por favor»
Among the popular beers of Mexico, our favorites for the occasion are the Modelo or the Dos Exquis. If you can’t find them, fall back on the popular Corona. And if you like clamato with your beer… You owe it to yourself make this beer cocktail named Michelada.
Would you rather buy a beer from a Quebec microbrewery? Be aware that certain styles make our taste buds more receptive to Mexican flavors.
- Blonde Lager: Combines with everything. Suggestion: The Kläss from the Charlevoix microbrewery
- American Pale Ale: With Pastor and Carnitas. Suggestion: Pit Caribou’s American Pale Ale
- Brown Ale: With Cochinita. Suggestion: La Gros Mollet from the Lac St-Jean microbrewery
- Pilsner: With vegetarian Mixiote and Tinga. Suggestion: Pilsner from Le Castor microbrewery
Mezcal or Tequila?
Both tequila and mezcal are made from the fermentation and distillation of agave, but the type of maguey varies from drink to drink. Tequila is produced only from Weber Tequilana or Blue Agave, while mezcal can be made with 12 different species.
Just like champagne to be called Champagne, it has to come from the province of the same name in France, the same thing happens with tequila. The region where it comes from is called Tequila and is in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
To serve mezcal, the traditional way is to serve it in a shot glass and accompany it with orange slices and gusano salt (mezcal glass).
For tequila, the traditional way to serve it is in a shot glass accompanied by lemon and sangrita (cocktail of tomato, orange, lime, worcestershire).
Here are two suggestions on sale in Quebec for your Mexican evening.
The first one is not a tequila, because it is not made with tequila in Mexico, but in Quebec!! YES, YES a tequila , an agave spirit distilled in Quebec!
The Comont distillery in Bedford dared to take the plunge by importing agave directly from Jalisco. It’s not “traditional” but for boldness and good taste, we suggest this Comont agave spirit available online and in some SAQ stores!
The second is a popular tequila in Mexico. It is also the one that Lili’s mother had bought at the cash register for our wedding celebration. It is good and affordable. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado 2017.
You’ll also enjoy discovering high-quality tequilas or mezcals at the SAQ and on importation-privee.com. On the latter, the agency Tequilart offers a very nice selection.
Do you already know tequila and mezcal too well? In our blog post “What are the Mexican spirits to discover“, We invite you to discover other popular Mexican spirits to discover on your next trip.
The vino
Tacos and vinos for cinco de mayo in Quebec… Why not!
There are 220 wineries in Mexico and the country has been producing wine for several centuries. Surprising, isn’t it? On this subject, we suggest you read this article by an Aztec sommelier trained in Quebec.
Wine remains very unpopular in Mexico. The average per capita wine consumption is about 1.02 litres annually, while in Quebec the average is 16.4 litres. (Los Québécois están borrachos!)
There are only 3 bottles from a single vineyard at the SAQ , so here’s what you need to know to choose a bottle from elsewhere according to the grape variety.
Mexican cuisine is full of complexity and vividness of flavors. So there is nothing better than wines that are acidic and persistent on the palate, such as those offered by Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or dry Rieslings. As for the reds, we suggest a Pinot Noir or a Tempranillo.
Mexican coco-cola
Mexico is the world’s leading Coca-Cola consumer! (Why?)
You may have noticed that Mexican Coca-Cola Tastes different? You’re right, because according to the Mexican recipe, cane sugar replaces the fructose-laden corn syrup used in the United States since the 80s. You can find this Mexican cola in grocery stores in Quebec in pretty vintage-looking bottles.
Don’t like Coca-Cola? You can try to find Jarritos. The popular brand has been around since the 50s and you can easily find it in most Latin grocery stores.
Lunch box for cinco de mayo
For the occasion, we suggest the 50 tacos with guacamole discovery box.
You can spend more time celebrating, decorating, making cocktails or playing with the kids…
Our range of Mexican ready-to-eat products is a solution delivered to your home to make your cinco de mayo celebrations easier.
Order a fiesta lunch box.
Everything will arrive fully cooked, frozen and vacuum-packed. You’ll just have to thaw 1 day before your party!
In your 50 tacos with guacamole discovery box, you’ll receive everything you need for your evening: Artisan tortillas, toppings and salsas. You can also add tamales (desserts) and drinks such as aguas frescas (hibiscus syrup and horchata syrup). Finally, drink a margarita, eat Mexican food, take an interest in customs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying and being interested in Mexico’s vast cultural richness… But don’t go overboard! Don’t feel like you have to caricature the Mexican accent, wear a poncho and a sombrero…
Happy Cinco de mayo!
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}