GRANDVILLE, Mich. -- Cinco de Mayo is an all-out celebration of Mexican culture in the United States and even some other countries like Japan who use the day to celebrate Latin-American culture as a whole. In Spanish, it is known as "El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla" (the Day of the Battle of Puebla), and the holiday commemorates Mexico's unlikely victory over the French on May 5th, 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War. While it's a minor holiday in Mexico itself, Mexican-Americans use the day as day to celebrate their culture and heritage.
For parents, the holiday is a great opportunity to educate your kids about Mexican culture and have them experience all it has to offer for themselves, and we at RiverTown Honda have put together a list of 5 fun activities to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your kids.
1. LEARN SOME SPANISH
Starting your kids early learning a second language can be very beneficial to their mental and social development, as bilingual children have been shown to possess better critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as greater mental flexibility and mindfulness of those from different cultural backgrounds. Spanish is not only one of the easiest languages for a native English-speaker to learn, but it's also one of the most practical, as it is spoken by over 400 million people making it the world's second most spoken language, as well as an official national language of 21 countries including the United States.
Similarly to English, Spanish has roots in Latin. When you start to dive a little into the language, you'll find that there are actually a lot of familiar-sounding words, Americans sometimes even use Spanish words as part of our everyday slang without even thinking about it! Additionally, Spanish is a phonetic language, meaning that the words are often pronounced how they're spelled making it easy to sound them out.
There are tons of resources out there to learn Spanish with your kids, like apps for your tablet or smartphone and educational websites on the Internet that often offer videos and practice exercises. You could also get a little artsy by giving your child a word like "gato" (cat) or "perro" (dog) and having them draw a picture of it with the Spanish word written underneath. This will help facilitate learning as having pictures in their head with which to associate their new vocabulary makes things easier.
2. SET UP A TACO BAR
While the exact origin of the taco is unknown, some historians theorize roots in the Mexican silver mines in the 18th century, when the word referred to small explosive charges used for excavation, consisting of gunpowder wrapped in paper. Another theory states that it comes from the Nauhatl (the language spoken by the indigenous Aztec people) "tlahco", meaning "half" or "in the middle", which makes sense given the food's preparation and presentation.
Regardless of how they came to be, tacos are a traditional Mexican cultural food enjoyed in many countries, and no Cinco de Mayo celebration would be complete without them! Add an educational aspect by labeling each ingredient, and facilitate discussion in Spanish by using these phrases:
- ¿Qué pusiste en tu taco? (What did you put in your taco?)
- ¿Cuál es el ingrediente más importante en un taco? (What do you think is the most important ingredient in a taco?)
- ¿Cuál es tu ingrediente de taco menos favorito? (What is your least favorite taco ingredient?)
3. MEXICAN HAT DANCE
"El Jarabe Tapatio", aka the Mexican Hat Dance, is a traditional cultural dance originating in Mexico, but also popular in other countries such as Cuba, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. It's also a fun and interactive way to expose your kids to Latin-American culture! You could also incorporate an arts & crafts element to it by creating homemade maracas, a traditional Mexican instrument, to use in the dance.
4. PAPER BAG PINATAS
It isn't a true Mexican celebration without a pinata. Although making one the traditional way will more than likely end up with you running up to Party City to grab one that's already made. Instead, give these super easy DIY paper bag pinatas a try!
5. LEARN ABOUT MEXICAN HISTORY
Given the origins of Cinco de Mayo, there's no better way to celebrate than to educate your kids on the history of Mexico. There are tons of kid-friendly resources online to utilize, as well as historical picture books. Much like bilingual children, those who are exposed to a culture and history different from their own benefit greatly both socially and mentally with reinforced values of acceptance, open-mindedness, and compassion.
Cinco de Mayo is a fun holiday celebrating the vibrant culture of Mexico, and a great time to educate your kids with these 5 fun activities. We at RiverTown Honda wish you and your family a happy, safe, and most importantly fun May the 5th! Additionally, as you're beginning to enjoy the warmer weather this spring, make sure your vehicle is running in top condition so that you can take trips to the park, the lake, around town, or a weekend getaway up north. Complete our Spring Car Care maintenance routine to get your ride ready for summer!
Give RiverTown Honda, the #1 Honda Dealer in Michigan in 2017, a call at (877) 236-9113, or visit us at 4260 Kenowa Ave. Grandville, MI 49418, one mile west of RiverTown Mall.
