Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With Fetch

Cinco de Mayo is when we celebrate Mexican and Mexican American heritage, and we usually do that with food and drink. So your friends at Fetch have a bit about the holiday and why we celebrate it as well as some tips for how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (complete with a shopping list, of course).

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What is Cinco de Mayo?

If you thought Cinco de Mayo was the Mexican equivalent of the Fourth of July, you’re not alone, but Mexican Independence Day is actually in September. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, and in Mexico, it’s rarely celebrated outside of Puebla. 

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Although it’s the anniversary of a specific battle, that’s not usually why we celebrate in the United States. We treat Cinco de Mayo as a general celebration of Mexican and Mexican American heritage.

When is Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo simply means “the 5th of May” and it’s celebrated on May 5th. Like the Fourth of July, the name does a lot of work for us on remembering this holiday.

Is Today Cinco de Mayo?

Are you reading this on May 5th? If so, then yes, today is Cinco de Mayo! But most days, the answer to “Is today Cinco de Mayo?” is “No.” 

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Preparing for your Cinco de Mayo party? We’ve got some tips for you. Our first rule for how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to do it responsibly. 

We know National Margarita Day is in the rearview and Cinco de Mayo is an excellent reason to have a delicious drink or two, but you should do it responsibly. That means having a designated driver if you’re planning to venture out, and it means avoiding harmful stereotypes and caricatures. 

After you’re ready to celebrate responsibly, we suggest you celebrate your Cinco de Mayo party with food and drink. You’ll probably easily find a Cinco de Mayo parade and mariachi folk music in or near your city, too. 

Cinco de Mayo Menu Ideas

Your Cinco de Mayo party menu ideas should go beyond Taco Tuesday, and we’ve got some upgrades to give your Cinco de Mayo menu something memorable.

• Elote Asado
• Agua de Sandía (watermelon aguas frescas)
• Simple Guacamole
• Tres Leches Cake
• Tostadas

Your Cinco de Mayo Shopping List

These are the starting points for some of our menu ideas. You’ll want to decide on the recipes you like to be sure you have everything you need.

General Cinco de Mayo Shopping List

• Protein (beef, chicken and/or Beyond Meat)
• Tortillas (small for tacos, large for burritos)
• Beans (black beans, pinto beans, refried beans)
• Cotija Cheese
• Chiles
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Limes
• Cilantro

Elote Asado Ingredients

• Corn (white or cacahuazintle)
• Creamy Mayo
• Sour Cream 
• Cotija Cheese

Agua de Sandía Ingredients

• Watermelon (cubed)
• Mint Leaves
• Sugar
• Limes (sliced)

Guacamole Ingredients

• Avocados
• Fresh Cilantro
• Serrano Chiles
• Limes (juiced)
• White Onion
• Kosher Salt

Tres Leches Ingredients

• Evaporated Milk
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Half and Half
• Unsalted Butter
• Eggs
• Cinnamon
• Flour & other baking supplies

Tostada Ingredients

• Tostada Shells (you can bake or fry your own)
• Beef, Chicken or Beyond Meat
• Refried Beans
• Shredded Lettuce
• Sliced Avocado
• Cotija Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Pico de Gallo

Printable Cinco de Mayo Grocery Shopping List

What Are Cinco de Mayo Colors?

You can’t go wrong with bright, festive colors. When it comes to Cinco de Mayo colors, though, most people celebrate with the colors of the Mexican flag: Red, White and Green.

How to Say “Happy Cinco de Mayo” in Spanish

If you wanted to say “Happy Cinco de Mayo!” in Spanish, you would say “¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!”

You probably don’t want to say “Happy Cinco de Mayo” in Spanish unless someone else says it to you first, though. Not everyone celebrates or sees a reason for celebrating the holiday, and if you’re really wanting to connect with someone, it could come off as cheesy or hollow.

Is Cinco de Mayo Day of the Dead?

No, Cinco de Mayo is its own holiday, which is distinct and quite different from the Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos). While Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th, el Día de los Muertos takes place over at least two days (November 1st and 2nd) and sometimes includes October 31st or November 6th, depending on where you’re celebrating.

Make Your Cinco de Mayo Celebration Shopping List Using Fetch

The Fetch app makes it easy to get more out of every shopping trip with just a snap of your camera. Turn your shopping receipts into gift cards in the Fetch app, and then use those gift cards to fund your Cinco de Mayo celebration. 

Be sure to start your shopping list in the Fetch app so you can easily take advantage of the brands offering bonus points.