Celebrating Mexico and Mexican Culture on Cinco de Mayo
We are back again with another amazing guest blogger! You didn’t think it was just a one & done, did you? 😉 Today, I’d like to welcome Lunaa Ethan who is an incredible Canadian travel & lifestyle blogger currently based in beautiful Mexico! With Cinco de Mayo quickly approaching, she’s created the most amazing, in depth guide to celebrating Mexico and Mexican culture on this holiday! Before we jump into it, I’ll mention this is a longer blog, so I’ve bookmarked each section that may be of interest so you can jump right to it! Lastly, don’t forget to follow Lunaa on Instagram and on her blog. Now, let’s get into this!
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WHAT IS CINCO DE MAYO? | CULTURAL AESTHETIC & SYMBOLISM | MEXICAN CUISINE | MEXICAN TOURISM
Hola Amigos! My name is Lunaa and I am thrilled to be a part of Emily’s guest blogger series! I am originally from Calgary, Alberta, and spent most of my adult life working as an RN in maternal child health. Unfortunately like many others during the pandemic I found myself struggling with depression, burnout, and serious disenfranchisement with the institutions and administrators of our health care and child welfare systems. I was completely broken and needed to step away from nursing and make some big life changes in order to find healing. So, in 2020 my husband and I made the decision to sell our house and jump into full-time RV living and travelling. It has been a crazy, wonderful adventure and I’m so excited to share some of that journey with you!
Because of the pandemic land border closure between Canada and the USA, we were stuck in Canada and spent winter 2020 hunkered down on Vancouver island, hiding from the snow and impatiently waiting for the border to re-open. Finally in November of 2021 the border closure was lifted and we made a bee-line down the Pacific coast and headed straight for Mexico, where we have spent the last 15 months travelling and exploring!
Mexico has become our beloved second home and I am thrilled to be able to share some of our journey and inspire you to celebrate Mexico and Mexican culture for Cinco de Mayo this year.
A common misperception is that Cinco de Mayo is to Mexico what the 4th of July is to America, and what Canada Day is to Canada - a day that celebrates the country’s independence (though I would like to note, what Canada Day represents is much different for the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, and is an important discussion in and of itself). In actuality, Mexico celebrates their independence from Spain on September 16, whereas Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory against the French Empire in the 1862 Battle of Pueblo. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is not widely acknowledged or celebrated in Mexico outside of local events in the state of Pueblo.
In reality, Cinco de Mayo as we know it today started in California and gained momentum throughout the United States and Canada (although it is catching on internationally as well) as a day of appreciation and celebration of Mexican culture. I never get tired of talking about how wonderful Mexico is, and I am so happy to be able to take this opportunity to share some of our journey travelling through the country, and in doing so I hope to inspire you all to celebrate and fall in love with Mexico and Mexican culture this Cinco de Mayo through Mexican customs, history and traditions, Mexican cuisine, and Mexican tourism!
First I want to recognize that many customs and traditions vary across Mexico and that each region of the country has their own unique cultural traditions. We have been fortunate to travel through about 10 of Mexico’s 32 states, and so I want to make sure that everyone reading this is aware that our experiences of Mexican culture exist within that context. I am in no way an expert on Mexico, just an appreciative and grateful traveller, and if you really want to learn about authentic Mexican culture I encourage you to go straight to the source, and I’ll share my Mexico travel destination recommendations later in this article!
Mexico loves to celebrate (seriously there are fireworks and celebrations almost every weekend) and I want to share a few ways you can embrace that celebratory spirit and incorporate Mexican culture, customs and traditions into your Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
A great way to honour Mexican culture is to incorporate authentic Mexican aesthetic details and symbolism into your Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
One of the things about Mexico I have fallen most in love with is the colours. We started our Mexico travels in January of 2022 in Baja California and Baja California Sur, and went as far south as the state of Chiapas which is a few hours north of the Guatemala border, and every place we stopped in between was adorned in bright, bold, beautiful colour. Maybe I appreciate the colours so much because growing up and living in Canada we spend at least 6 months of the year drenched in dreary browns and greys, so being surrounded by colour just feels so warm and loving. From the vibrant greens of the jungle and bold floral oranges, pinks and yellows, to the vivid shades of ocean blue and turquoise - whether you are in Mexico’s wild places or exploring historical towns and cities you will find yourself fully immersed in colour.
A lot of Mexican art and symbolism is rooted in a deep cultural respect for Mexico’s Indigenous peoples and their traditions. Mexico has a rich indigenous history that goes all the way back to ancient Aztec and Mayan culture, through to today where Mexico recognizes at least 68 individual Indigenous groups who speak more than 300 traditional languages. Indigenous Mexican culture can be incorporated through textiles, pottery, beading and glass mosaic art.
One of the most important holidays in Mexico is Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead). This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico on Nov 1st and Nov 2nd; however many symbols and art that represent Dia de los Muertos can be found across the country year-round. Items such as marigolds, sugar skulls and La Catrina are beautiful symbols of Mexican culture that can be added to your Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
In my opinion it is really hard to beat authentic Mexican food, with deep slow roasted flavours paired perfectly with fresh and crisp ingredients. My personal favourite and go-to Mexican food is always tacos. After 15 months in Mexico I am 60% taco and so happy about it! There are just so many possibilities with tacos: barbacoa, pescado, al pastor, chorizo, and birria just to name a few. Just like Mexican cultural traditions, Mexican cuisine (and tacos specifically) vary regionally. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching Netflix’s The Taco Chronicles for inspiration and to get better acquainted with the full spectrum of the authentic taco experience across the different regions of Mexico.
There are 3 things that in my experience make the perfect Mexican taco:
The size. This is where a lot of tacos in the USA and Canada first go wrong. Authentic Mexican tacos are small, using a soft corn or flour tortilla that is ~4 inches in diameter - the perfect 2-3 bite morsel! The great part about traditional tacos being a smaller portion size, is that you have room for more tacos. Sometimes the tortillas are even doubled up if the filling is especially juicy.
The filling. Authentic taco meat filling is the star of most taco shows. The tacos I grew up with in Canada were almost exclusively just sautéed ground beef. Authentic taco meat fillings are slow roasted, often on a spit, simmering in flavour all day. Different cuts of meat, cooked slowly and combined with different spice blends means almost unlimited filling possibilities.
The toppings. Taco toppings should be complementary to the taco filling. It is important that toppings don’t overwhelm the taco. Usually a taqueria will have a topping station or bar that offers a handful of different salsa varieties (salsa verdes, salsa rojas, pico de Gallo etc), guacamole or an avocado creme, and garnishes (cilantro, onions, radishes, cucumber, chilli peppers, lime etc). Unlike in the USA and Canada where cheese is often a key component in tacos, in Mexico cheese is only used in a few specific types/styles of taco.
For beverages, tequila is the king of Mexico. The role that tequila has played in Mexican culture and history is significant, specifically in the state of Jalisco - home of the iconic blue agave plant and the namesake city of Tequila. Only products made in Jalisco are legally able to be labelled as tequila, and even in the neighbouring state of Oaxaca, spirits distilled from the agave plant are known as mezcal.
Cerveza (beer) is also very popular in Mexico and is often served in two styles: chelada and michelada. A chelada is simply a beer served in a frosted glass with lime juice and salt. You can upgrade the intensity of a chelada into a michelada by adding chilli sauces and spices. The authentic Mexican michelada is no joke though, and unless you have a very seasoned chilli tolerance it can get serious. So for the rest of us, I recommended a tamer home version of a michelada - think the Canadian caeser - using Clamato juice, tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
A popular non-alcoholic Mexican beverage you can include in your Cinco de Mayo celebration is aguas frescas, which is simply fruit blended with water and sweetener - the middle sibling between juice and smoothie and very refreshing. There are many restaurants in Mexico that do not serve alcohol but have 3-4 different flavours of fresh aguas frescas available. Popular flavours in Mexico include strawberry, pineapple, cantaloupe, honey dew, watermelon, guava and papaya.
In my opinion (which I will fully admit is a little bias), the best way to celebrate Mexico and Mexican culture this Cinco de Mayo is by planning a trip to Mexico! Did you know that Canadian citizens can access a tourist visa for Mexico for up to 6 months at a time?! There is a special bond between Canada and Mexico that is hard to articulate. As Canadians we have been treated with such warmth and kindness from the Mexican people through our travels, it has truly become our home away from home. Prior to moving into full-time RV living we had visited Mexico multiple times in the past through resort vacations, including getting married in the Mayan Riviera. Our experience travelling through Mexico in an RV has been incredibly positive; so much so that we went through the process of gaining temporary residency in Mexico so we can continue exploring the country for four more years.
Mexico has so much to offer travellers. From beaches and dramatic coastlines, to jungles, deserts and lush mountains, to the 132 Pueblos Magicos (magic towns), and the 35 UNESCO World Heritage sites - there is something to satisfy all your travel cravings.
I want to inspire you to visit Mexico by sharing 3 of my favourite places we have visited in Mexico over the last 15 months!
01. GUADALAJARA, TEQUILA, GUACHIMONTONES – JALISCO
Guadalajara is the capital city of the state of Jalisco and has a rich cultural history dating back to the early 1500s. Guadalajara was a place of significant resistance by the indigenous people of Mexico against Spanish colonization, and remains an important cultural hub today. Filled with museums, art, and architecture, Guadalajara is a great destination to immerse yourself in Mexican cuisine, culture and history. One of the great things about Guadalajara is its proximity to the historic city of Tequila and the ancient archaeological site of Guachimontones, both of which are accessible as day trips together or separately.
The city of Tequila and the surrounding agave landscape, which includes the foothills of the Tequila Volcano and the valley of the Rio Grande, is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. This landscape has been shaped by the role of the blue agave plant over 2000 years, and is one of the most iconic and unique areas of Mexico. You can book tours from Guadalajara to Tequila, including a trip on the famous Jose Cuervo train. Additionally, you can rent a car and soak up the scenery while driving through the agave landscape yourself. There are plenty of boutique hotels and interesting places to stay a couple of nights in the area, including the option to sleep under the stars in a giant tequila barrel.
About a one hour drive from Tequila, on the other side of the Tequila Volcano, is the town of Teuchitlan which is where you will find the ancient archaeological site of Guachimontones, which dates back to 300BCE. A feature of the UNESCO world heritage site, Guachimontones is one of a dozen or so archaeological sites in the valley that features incredibly unique circular pyramid structures. With an on-site museum and interpretive centre you can walk among the ruins, and learn about the ancient Teuchitlan culture that established the area.
02. HUATULCO, PUERTO ESCONDIDO, SAN AGUSTIN – OAXACA
In my opinion, this coastal region of the state of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-ha-ka) boasts some of the best beaches in all of Mexico! Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, and San Agustin are just a few of the towns that line this part of the coast. We stayed specifically in the little fishing village of San Agustin, and we were able to hike or take a short boat ride to some of the most picturesque beaches I have ever seen. With lush jungles kissing up to the shore, dramatic cliffs and rock formations, gentle turquoise waters and thriving reefs, the Oaxaca coast is the perfect place to soak up the sun, the sea, and really embrace the laid back vibes of Mexico. There are no words that do this place justice, so instead I will let the photos convince you!
03. SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS – CHIAPAS
San Cristobal de las Casas is a historic city nestled in the highland mountains of the state of Chiapas, just a few hours north of the Guatemala border, and is one of the places in Mexico that I never get sick of talking about. San Cristobal is one of the most charming cities I have ever had the pleasure of visiting, and I fell in love with it almost instantly. From the beauty of the landscape, to the history and architecture, to the richness and authenticity of the culture, there is nowhere else like it. San Cristobal is a great place to visit if you enjoy cooler temperatures, crisp air and rain. The climate here reminded me so much of Vancouver Island, so if that is your kind of weather San Cristobal is the place for you. The city is filled with dozens of historic churches, textile and art markets, cobblestone streets, quaint cafes and restaurants, boutique shops and art collectives and so much more!
The location of San Cristobal also makes it a perfect hub for adventure tourism, with many beautiful wild places accessible as day trips from the city.
Just a couple of hours from San Cristobal you will find Cañon del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon) - an incredible river canyon that stretches for 13 km along the Grijalva River, with towering vertical walls reaching up to 1000 metres high. The best way to experience Sumidero Canyon is by taking a river boat tour, where you will see crocodiles, monkeys, waterfalls, caves and more. This was a bucket list experience that is a must-do if you are visiting San Cristobal.
I want to thank Emily for inviting me to participate in her guest blogger series. It has been such a blast putting this post together and reminiscing on the last 15 months of travelling through Mexico. I hope sharing some of our RV travel journey has inspired you to celebrate Mexico and Mexican culture this Cinco de Mayo, and ignites a spark of wonder to visit and explore more of this amazing country!
If you want to see more of what full-time RV living can look like, and want to tag along on our travels through the Americas, you can find me on Instagram @lunaaethan and at lunaaethan.com!
Thank you again to Lunaa for this amazing blog post!
