It’s not all margaritas and salsa ya know! Well, maybe a little bit? But seriously, Cinco de Mayo is something you can get your kids excited about. There's culture, language, music, and of course the FOOD! Immerse yourself, dive in, and be your kids' best teacher of all things Mexican!
Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, but how many of us really know anything about what it is all about? My teacher self says, “Perfect teachable moment guys...let's do this!”. Time to educate yourself and your kids on this day and what it really means. All this time I thought it was a Mexican Independence Day celebration, WRONG! After doing a little reading (for this article, no less) I learned it is actually a celebration over a single Mexican victory in the Battle of Puebla (they were never expected to win) over the French Empire during the Second French Invasion of Mexico in 1862. Now that you know, here are some fun ideas you can do with your kids to celebrate!
Hit up the Library Folks-
You heard me, teaching your kids about good old-fashioned reference material is a good thing. Of course, the internet is a good second option if you can’t get to the library before closing. Check out books on Mexico, Mexican cookbooks, History of the Battle of Puebla, Spanish Language, anything your library can offer. Make sure you say hi to your children's librarian, she would be happy to help you find everything you need.
Learn a Little Spanish-
Get into the Mexican spirit by choosing a few words to use around the house with your kids. Think of words you might use often, to help them really stick!
| Hello | Hola |
| Water | Agua |
| Good Morning | Buenos Dias |
| Good Night | Buenos Noches |
| Car | Coche |
| Good Bye | Adios |
| Please | Por Favor |
| Thank You | Gracias |
| Let’s Go | Vamos |
| Yes | Si |
| No | No |
| Cat | Gato |
| Dog | Perro |
Play a New Game- Children in Mexico play a game called “Loteria”. It is similar to our Bingo. As with Bingo, there is an announcer who chooses a card from a stack, however, the announcer gives a riddle, or uses a funny voice to give a clue about the picture on the card they have chosen before showing it to the players. You could try this way at home using a Bingo game you already have.
Try Some New Foods-Picky eater on your hands? Perfect. This is a great chance to learn about a few new foods they might not be familiar with. Make a field trip out of going to the store specifically for a few Mexican foods to try like; avocados, prepared guacamole, cilantro, salsa, tortillas, queso fresco, and Spanish rice. Prepare and taste everything together once you get home. Have older kids? Let them find a few recipes they would like to try, and let them help plan dinners for the week. Not really the cooking type? Here are a few of our favorite spots on Cape for Mexican food.
Sam Diego’s-950 Iyannough Road Hyannis 508-771-8816
Anejo Mexican Bistro-188 Main Street Falmouth 508-388-7631; 599 Main Street Hyannis 774-470-5897
Guapo’s Tortilla Shack- Staples Plaza 136 Rt. 6A Orleans 508-255-3338; Underpass Road Brewster 508-896-3338 (closed for the season still)
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant- 1070 Iyannough Road Hyannis 508-827-7711
Casa Vallerta Mexican Restaurant- 70 Davis Straits Falmouth 508-299-8177
Back Yard Taco- 33 Winter Street Edgartown 774-549-6944
Easy Street Cantina- 2 Broad Street Nantucket 508-228-5418
Mi Pueblo- 459 Main Street Hyannis 508-771-1575
Music! Music! Music!- Music is a great way to learn about any new culture. Traditional Mexican mariachi bands use maracas, guitars, and trumpets to create their upbeat sound. Younger children will enjoy watching a YouTube video, of a Mariachi band in their elaborate sombreros and costumes. Older children can find American recording artists who have recorded Spanish albums like Jenifer Lopez, Shakira, Marc Anthony, and Ricky Martin, plus tons of others.
Hungry for guac and chips yet? We are! Maybe start celebrating early?
