Is that really Cinco De Mayo Décor you ask – why yes, it is! As I shared previously, I am increasing the number of holidays that I decorate for as it gives me a fun opportunity to bring a few new pieces into my home which I think gives it energy and gives me an energy boost.
If you had asked me when I started this with Valentines whether Cinco de Mayo would be on the list, I would have probably said no, but as St. Patrick’s Day rolled by and I have no Irish ancestry or personal connection, I thought why not and so it is. As always, I am sharing this way ahead of the holiday to give you time to shop the items listed below and bring some of this fun into your home!
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage. It commemorates the date of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is sometimes confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is actually September 16, the date in 1821 that the 11-year war for independence from Spain ended over 41 years before the Battle of Puebla against France.
Cinco de Mayo is a colorful, inclusive festival. It started as a way to celebrate Mexican heritage, and it is now widely celebrated with parades and parties including Mariachi bands, Mexican folk music, dancing, Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine, Mexican-inspired cocktails, and costumes. In Mexico, celebrations also include commemorations focused on the military, including military parades and re-enactments of the Battle of Puebla.
Marigolds are actually tied to another Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) which is celebrated in Mexico and throughout the world on November 1 and 2. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life that honors friends and family who have passed away. Colorful altars are erected in homes and public spaces featuring favorite foods, drinks (most notably, tequila), and personal mementos of the deceased.
You might guess with a name like Ybarra that my husband is of Latin descent and you would be right. Our name actually means people who live by the river and his family migrated from Spain to South America and then his father moved from Mexico to California where my husband was born. We are also connected through my son who is taking AP Spanish Language and Culture this year and the former owners of this home were Mexican.
You definitely do not need to have any connection to Mexico (see my St. Patrick’s Day décor) to enjoy and decorate for his holiday. Even the real dog wanted (well “wanted” may not be exactly the right word) to get in on this fun!
There were also a couple other French Bulldogs that got in on the sombrero action. Seriously, if you only buy one thing for Cinco de Mayo you must get these 6 little sombreros for only $14.99. They are so cute just sitting by themselves on a shelf or accessorizing some of your existing decor. And while you are at it, it is hard to pass on the 2 Mexican runners that were also only $14.99!
If you are following along with my non-tacky holiday decor series (links below) you will know that there is always a bowl filled with colored ornaments as part of the decoration. Cindo de Mayo is no exception and I have created a representation of the Mexican flag. If you need help with a fun bowl – check out this post.
You might also know that my holiday decor always features some dish towels. These are special because my Mom use to always send me dishtowels for holidays but these are new ones that I got from Etsy because this is the first, but certainly not the last, Cinco de Mayo decor at my house. In fact, I think that these simple decorations may be my favorite with the bright colors providing life.
Here are some links to some fun Cinco de Mayo decorations that I found in case you are now inspired to add some of this to your home. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a holiday dry spell after Cinco de Mayo so these will probably stay up until the 4th of July, but I am so okay with that!
I love it. You’ve inspired me to decorate for Cinco de Mayo!
I am having lots of fun with all these small decorations – easy to put up and take down! 🙂 Surprised how good the vibrate colors look in my very neutral home.