Viva Mexico! Throwing a Cinco de Mayo party with style

April 14, 2009

Though Cinco de Mayo has little to do with U.S. history, the annual holiday has become a somewhat unofficial precursor to Memorial Day weekend with people celebrating the Mexican holiday with a cookout and some beers.

However, for those who are fans of party themes, the day that commemorates Mexico defeating French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 is a great opportunity to flex some of your skills.

Incorporating small Mexican flags, either on the table or hung up on the wall, can be a nice cultural touch. If they are unavailable, using the colors of the Mexican flag (green, white and red) can work as well.

This is also a great opportunity to explore the country's cuisine with tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and even chicken mole (which is made with chocolate) for the more adventurous. Adding these to your Cinco de Mayo party can help it stand out from others that feel placing a bag of chips and a jar of salsa is enough.

And remember, a piñata doesn't have to be a kids game either because deep down, everyone loves to be blindfolded and swing wildly at a paper-based donkey.