Cinco de Mayo is a fun holiday to celebrate — right up there with Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween. But before you slip on that sombrero and start chugging Mexican beers, take some time to consider the cultural meaning of the holiday.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico are full of vibrant colors, costumes and music — but only in the state of Puebla. For most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo — or May 5th — is like any other day. 

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo doesn’t celebrate Mexican independence (that would be September 16th) but the 1862 Battle of Puebla. The French sent troops to Mexico in 1861 because the nation defaulted on debt repayments. After an initial victory in Veracruz, the French moved on to Puebla and expected an easy win. However, only 2,000 Mexican soldiers fought the French army off and defended their land. 

The Battle of Puebla didn’t win the war, but it did ignite a sense of national pride and resistance in the Mexican people. And that’s why citizens of Puebla celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

While the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo seems to have become misconstrued over the years, you and your coworkers can help turn that around by respectfully honoring the holiday this year. Here are a few ideas on how to do just that.

Ideas to respectfully celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Before you head to Party City for ponchos, fake mustaches and sombreros, take a moment to consider more respectful ways to celebrate and honor Mexican culture. Here are five ways your whole team — whether remote, hybrid, or in-person — can honor Mexican culture this Cinco de Mayo. 

1. Focus on education

Ever since brewing companies popularized Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S., the day has become more of a drinking holiday than one celebrating Mexican pride. Most people don’t know its history or why it became popular in the U.S.

Education is the best way to change these misconceptions while honoring Mexican culture. Now, when we say education, we’re not talking about textbook reading and lectures. Learning about Cinco de Mayo can be fun — especially if you pair it with some Mexican catering. 

Consider scheduling a lunch-and-learn webinar series so all your on-premises and remote employees can participate. You can invite local experts to share about Cinco de Mayo and Mexican culture so your entire team can learn together. Don’t forget to order some Mexican food for your team so they can fuel up while taking it all in.

2. Avoid appropriation

Cultural appropriation refers to inappropriately adopting elements of another culture. And, unfortunately, appropriation often surfaces with Cinco de Mayo — especially with holiday nicknames like “Drinko de Mayo.”

The Mexican culture is so much more than tequila, sombreros, ponchos and tacos. But Cinco de Mayo celebrations typically focus only on those things, often resulting in appropriation. 

By taking some precautions, you and your team can avoid appropriation during office celebrations. For example, you can explain that costumes, fake accents and cliched jokes (like Drinko de Mayo) aren’t acceptable. You can also encourage employees to keep an open mind and learn more about the culture. 

3. Order catering from an authentic Mexican restaurant

Of course, a big part of Cinco de Mayo is the food. Who doesn’t love a taco bar? 

Planning a catered lunch from an authentic Mexican restaurant — owned and run by Mexican Americans — can be a great way to celebrate the culture and enjoy true Mexican cuisine. Options like Relish by ezCater deliver individual lunches from local restaurants directly to your office. And the best part is that you can support local Mexican-owned businesses since ezCater partners with 100,000+ restaurants across the country.

While taco bars, burrito bowls and fajitas are all things the whole office should enjoy, for a more authentic touch, try the following dishes:

·   Pozole— A soup made with hominy corn, chicken or pork and herbs and spices.

·   Chile en nogada — A patriotic dish bearing the colors of the Mexican flag that includes chopped meat, fruits, spices, walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds.

·   Elote — A type of street corn that’s boiled and served on a stick with salt, chili powder, butter and other toppings.

4. Create a book club

Want to create a lasting Cinco de Mayo celebration? Start a virtual or in-person book club! You and your team members can select a piece of Mexican or Mexican-American literature to read throughout the month and then come together to discuss it at the end of the month. 

This is a great way to really learn about Mexican culture and break down stereotypes. And you won’t be doing it alone. A book club offers the perfect environment to share ideas, ask questions and learn. 

5. Encourage inclusivity

Another way to support education and avoid appropriation is by encouraging inclusivity. This holiday is the perfect time to give Mexican colleagues a platform to share their culture, experiences and point of view. However, approach them about the idea well before the Cinco de Mayo celebrations to ensure they’re comfortable sharing. 

You can turn this holiday into an opportunity to celebrate all cultures. Start a dialogue about team members’ heritage and culture, and discuss the unique traditions that everyone has. And to make the experience even better, pair the conversation with some mouth-watering pozole or tamales. 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the respectful way

Cinco de Mayo is the perfect time to learn about and appreciate Mexican culture — not just what people assume about the culture. Consider the ideas above, talk with your team and plan how you can best honor Mexican culture. 

The best part of any holiday is the food, so make sure you have plenty of authentic Mexican cuisine to go around. Search for local Mexican restaurants on ezCater and get meals delivered to your employees — whether you have onsite or hybrid work environments.