On the fifth day of the fifth month people around the world commemorate Mexico’s victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla. That happened in 1862 and the victory was short-lived. Still, Cinco de Mayo is a day for celebration. Here in the United States and around the world, the holiday honors Mexican heritage.
If you are looking for simple ways to celebrate at home, then gather the kids and make a few easy Mexican dishes and these fun crafts:
MEXICAN PARTY STREAMERS
Materials:
Empty toilet paper rolls
Craft glue
Red and green craft sand
Red, white, and green ribbon (at least 1/2-inch wide)
Hole puncher
Directions:
Cover the outside of the toilet paper rolls with craft glue and roll in colored sand. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Use hole puncher to make six equally spaced holes about 1/2-inch up from the bottom of the toilet paper roll.
Tie one-yard length of ribbon in each color to each toilet paper roll.
Kids can wave the finished streamers around as they dance to Mexican music.
HOMEMADE MARACAS
Materials:
Clean yogurt containers with lids
Large Popsicle sticks
Small dry beans
1/8-inch wide red and green ribbon
Red, white and green construction paper
Masking tape
Glue
Paint, markers, or crayons
Directions:
Measure Popsicle stick and cut a slice in the bottom center of each yogurt cup. The slice should be about 1/8-inch longer than stick is wide.
Insert Popsicle stick into opening of each cup until about 1/4-inch of the stick is visible inside cup. Glue the stick in place.
Allow glue to dry completely.
Pour about 2 tablespoons of dried beans into each yogurt cup, replace lid, and tape shut.
Cut a strip of construction paper about one-half inch wider than the cup’s circumference at its widest point and about six inches longer than the cup’s height. Wrap the paper around cup, leaving three inches of extra paper at the top and bottom of cup. Tape paper in place.
Use red and green ribbon to gather paper around top and bottom of cup and tie closed.
The Popsicle stick handle should stick out from the paper covering around the bottom of the cup.
Use crayons, markers or paint to decorate the outside of the maracas.
Related Articles:
More Ideas for Cinco de Mayo Fun
Papel Picado – Cinco de Mayo Project