Sign Up for the Recipe Publishing Newsletter
A Look at Traditional Cinco de Mayo Costume
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday, which we in the US have taken up enthusiastically, with holiday parades, parties and other events being common from coast to coast. We celebrate this day in different ways, but naturally, Mexican food and drink plays a big part in most celebrations. You may well be holding a Cinco de Mayo party yourself; and if so, you can make this already festive holiday even more so with the right Cinco de Mayo costume.
While not everyone necessarily dresses up for a Cinco de Mayo party, you'll definitely see a lot of people out there in costume for the day, especially if they're taking part in a parade or other large, organized Cinco de Mayo celebration. Getting dressed up for this holiday, however, is definitely becoming more popular and it's easier than you think to find a fantastic outfit or costume to wear on May 5th.
If you're a history buff, there's probably no need to tell you that Cinco de Mayo is a commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862; however, if you are, then why not go for a 1860s Mexican or French army uniform as a Cinco de Mayo costume? While this is not the first outfit you might think of when you are considering dressing up for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, you can put something together by visiting your local vintage shops, thrift stores, and military surplus suppliers.
If a military uniform does not spell fiesta to you, then there are many other options to consider. For example, women can dress up in a long dress like those worn by Mexican folk dancers or keep it simple with a traditional white blouse and long skirt with sandals. Men also have a few different choices, such as a guyabera shirt and a sombrero, a colorful serape or even a mariachi musician outfit!
Those who have a fondness for western wear will be especially well-prepared to dress up for Cinco de Mayo; cowboy boots, hats, jeans and western shirts are every bit as popular south of the border as they are in the southwestern United States. If you live in a larger city, then you probably even have a Mexican-style western wear shop close by; these are great places to find a vaquero (cowboy) Cinco de Mayo costume.
No matter whether you choose to go all out with a Mexican soldier's outfit or a mariachi costume or keep it simple; or even if you do not dress up at all, Cinco de Mayo is guaranteed to be a great time! As long as you remember to enjoy plenty of Mexican food and drink and keep the festive atmosphere of this holiday fully in mind, then your Cinco de Mayo costume can be anything you like!
