Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Ideas For Creating A Fabulous Fiesta

Cinco de Mayo is the perfect event for a great Mexican fiesta theme party. It is commonly thought that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's independence day. This is not correct. The 5th of May celebrates the Battle of Puebla. It was during this battle that the Mexican army of 4,000 defeated Napoleon's much larger and well-equipped French army on May 5, 1862. The French forces numbered over 8,000. While this was an incredible victory for the Mexican forces, Cinco de Mayo is not a huge national holiday. However, it has morphed into a worldwide celebration of Mexican pride, culture and heritage. Cinco de Mayo provides a fun opportunity to enjoy a Fiesta with family and friends.

Mexican food lends itself to big groups, so invite a crowd. A buffet usually works best for a fiesta. Let people mix and mingle and keep the atmosphere casual. Tacos, chili, fajitas, enchiladas or burritos are all easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Nachos, tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole and your appetizers are done. What would a Mexican theme party be without a Corona and lime or a pitcher of ice-cold margaritas? Plan to have plenty on hand. Mix up a pitcher of "virgin margaritas" for your guests that do not drink. As a matter of fact, a Corona or margarita glass that you have hand painted in orange and green could serve as perfect invitation. Attach your invitation with a ribbon or a colorful pipecleaner and "hand deliver" to your invitees. Another clever idea is to take a bottle of unopened Sangria and soak off the label. Get your creative juices flowing on your computer and create an invitation template that can printed on to a large shipping size label. Affix the label to the sangria bottle and your guests have a most unique invitation to your gathering! Set your table with bright, bold tablecloths in green and orange. Add a big sombero perhaps filled with a cactus plant. Use a serape as a table topper for additional color. Add more color with your papergoods and cutlery. Hang an empty piñata for color and ambiance. Don't forget to add some great Mexican themed music. There is great Marachi music that you can download onto your Ipod. For those of us over 40.. check out the old Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass hits. Music always adds to any festivity.

Once you get your party going.. play a few rounds of appropriately themed "Bandito Bingo". It is a ton of fun with your grand prize winner being adorned as the Grande Bandito. For a free download of this themed bingo game, head to Celebration Ideas Online. You will also find ideas for great favors for your fiesta, including instructions on making each guest a custom Cinco De Mayo t-shirt. No one should go home empty handed from a fabulous fiesta celebration!.