Creative Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Columbia with Kids

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It’s Cinco de Mayo, which, if you remember your Sesame Street Spanish, means “the 5th of May”. No, it’s not Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo began to commemorate the victory of the Mexican army over the French in 1862, but it’s become a general holiday to celebrate All Things Mexican. Because a) Latin American heritage is important, b) Mexico’s our next door neighbor, and c) America loves to appropriate cultural stuff involving food, alcohol, or both. So break out some pinatas, eat some great food, and party! Here’s some ideas to get your started on your celebration.

Visit a Tienda

Buy an awesome pinata and let your kids have at it!
Buy a pinata and let your kids have at it!

No, not the ethnic food section of Walmart. A real tienda. Drive up 378 in West Columbia until you see El Mariachi. Go inside. Peruse the offerings of a real Mexican grocery store (food, drink, awesome candles), and buy your pinata. My son prefers the Batman one. Be sure to score some candy to fill it, and then have lunch at the restaurant in the back. It’s a holiday, so they might be barbecuing pork out front. Hope they are, and if not, come back on Sunday, when it’s a weekly thing.

Scared to try a menu you can’t read? Give Tacaria Jalisco a shot. While it’s lacking the tienda, it’s run by real people from Mexico. The food’s both approachable and delicious, and you can read the menu without googling the meaning of “carne”.

Do Some Crafts

It’s not a holiday without crafts, people. Try some Cinco de Mayo color and trace pages. Let the wonders of Cinco de Mayo Pinterest wash over you. Make some somberos. Color some Mexican flags. And since having kids = having those tiny boxes of raisins, make them into some maracas. Listen to Mariachi while you’re crafting for the ultimate cool mom points. And no, you can’t substitute Telemundo instead.

Then Start Cooking

guac
Your aspiring chef can help out in the kitchen!

Let’s get real: holidays are a thinly veiled excuse for gluttony. Kids love to make basic guacamole, and Trader Joe’s has good prices on avocados. My two-year old thinks the mashing and mixing makes him the World’s Greatest Chef.

Bake some tres leche cake if you’re feeling adventurous, or some Mexican wedding cake cookies. Otherwise, it’s taco night! Or mix it up by checking out some Mexican recipe pages.

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For the Kids

Find all your favorite Sesame Street songs on YouTube! There’s the old Uno, Dos, Tres song, Count to 20 in Spanish with the Count, and Manos, Capeza, Pies. Or find your kid’s favorites shows dubbed in Spanish – see if they can follow along. Today, Yo Gabba Gabba in Spanish is education, people. If you reeeeeally need to stretch, maybe Dora. Maybe.

Pick Spanish names for the day – common names like Elizabeth or John have easy Spanish equivalents, but Colton and Addison may have to just pick one they like. You’re mamá and papá.

But What About Baby?

Halloween rebozo
Wear your baby in a rebozo like the women in Mexico do (minus the hat and sunglasses).

Women in Mexico often carry their babies in rebozos: long scarves made of handwoven cotton. Find a suitable sling material (or how to reuse a long tablecloth here), and wrap up baby! Wrapping Rachel has some great instructional videos on a simple hip carry.

And finally: it’s not Cinco de Mayo without Mexi-Coke, coca-cola produced in Mexico known for its “more complex flavor with an ineffable spicy and herbal note”. But don’t take my word for it, you be the judge.

How do you plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo with your kids?

 

1 COMMENT

  1. I’m hosting a Cinco de Mayo party for our playgroup! We’re doing “Make Your Own Tacos” at the park! Yay, food!!

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