376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, P.O. Box 316, Bridgehampton, NY 11932

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Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and the United States commemorating the victory of the Mexican army over the French in the Battle of Puebla, in 1862. In Mexico, it is celebrated with food, dancing, and customs. The holiday has become widely popular in the United States, and we have adapted our own ways to celebrate (cheers!)

Cinco de Mayo is an invitation to deeply explore Mexican culture and traditions with your children. Despite our currently inability to travel, we can bring the sites, sounds, and smells of Mexico into our homes by exploring art, music, food, and culture online. Here are some art projects to inspire your google searches, and decorate for your fiesta:

Papel Picado

Papel Picado is a decorative craft made by cutting elaborate patterns in tissue paper…think of those paper snowflakes we made as kids. Papel picado is a type of Mexican folk art. They are commonly displayed on holidays, and for celebrations like weddings, or baptisms. Traditional themes include birds, flowers, and skeletons. Papel picado are often made into a banner and hung across the streets in Mexico.

Materials

  • Tissue paper (newspaper will work, too!)
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Tape

Procedure

  1. Stack a few different colors of tissue paper on top of each other, cut all into the same size rectangle shape.
  2. Fold rectangle a few times to make a small shape.
  3. Cut circles, and other shapes out.
  4. Unfold your tissue paper and reveal your pattern!
  5. Attach paper picado to a string with tape or glue to create a banner.

Maracas

What’s a party without music? Repurpose your leftover plastic Easter eggs and bring on the dancing!

Materials

  • Plastic eggs
  • Choose one: popcorn kernels, dried rice, dried beans, coins
  • Tape
  • Two plastic spoons

Procedure

  1. Fill egg with 1 tbsp of any of the fillings listed above.
  2. Close egg, secure it by wrapping tape around the crack a few times.
  3. With both spoons facing inward, nestle the egg in between. The bottoms of the spoons should come together, like a handle. Tape egg tightly between the spoons.
  4. Shake, shake, shake!

Have an idea for your own easy-to-create playspace at home? Share it with Senora Liz!

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