Cinco De Mayo is almost upon us! Have you started planning your festivities? There is no dearth of fun things to do for this holiday, and as always your decorations will be taken to the next level with a little floral love!

Holiday Origins

But what is Cinco De Mayo? For those who don’t know, Cinco De Mayo is Spanish for the 5th of May. The holiday actually began in Mexico after the Battle of Puebla, where French forces invaded Mexico and were defeated (albeit briefly) by a much smaller and less well-equipped Mexican army. The victory was so unexpected and so impressive that May 5th, 1862 became a date to celebrate in Puebla and all over the rest of the country. Over the years, it has lost traction in Mexico and these days is mostly only celebrated in the town of Puebla itself. Other parts of the country may recognize the date, but festivals and parades in honor of the hard-fought victory are things of the past.

But even with its failing popularity in Mexico, the holiday lives on in America.

An American Celebration

Wait, what? If this is a Mexican holiday, why is it celebrated in America? That question has different theories, but no solid answers. The most popular theories are:

1. When the holiday first began, it was huge in Mexico. As more and more people immigrated to America, and America annexed more of Mexico, they brought the love of the holiday with them. Although the holiday’s popularity waned in Mexico over time, the tradition stayed strong in America.
2. The French invasion happened during a point in the American Civil War when the South and General Robert E. Lee were enjoying some degree of success. People surmise that Napoleon III’s plan was to take Mexico and use it as a staging area to support the South and remove the Northern blockades around the Gulf of Mexico. Due in part to the Battle of Puebla, France was unable to enact their plan. If France had been successful, the fate of the South and the eventual outcome of the Civil War could have been very different.

But in reality, there is no definitive reason. Whyever it happened, the holiday caught on and now it’s as much a part of American culture as St. Patrick’s Day, another holiday Americans celebrate that really has little or nothing to do with America.

Cinco De Mayo with Flowers

And no party is complete without flowers. After all, they make the perfect decoration!

Flowers are available in a variety of colors, provide atmosphere and set the tone for your fiesta. You can buy them already put together as centerpieces or arrangements, or you can buy them singly to use as personal decoration. Can you think of a better way to greet your guests at the door than with a yellow rose in your hair? Bueno!

So contact your local florist, tell them about your plans and let them offer advice on the flowers to use and all the different ways to use them. They will probably have some ideas you haven’t thought of or maybe some suggestions to enhance your ideas. And isn’t that the beauty of local? It’s always pleasant to have someone available to answer your questions and offer advice along with their product.

C’mon people, it’s Cinco De Mayo! Pick up a sombrero, grab some cervezas or margaritas and let’s get this party started!