Cinco de Mayo is one of the most joyous and celebratory holidays around. Commemorating the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, the fifth of May is a day of drinking, eating and proudly celebrating the beauty of Mexican culture.
It’s also a great day for parties! And if you’re thinking of throwing a dinner fiesta of your own this Cinco de Mayo, then read on to discover tips on how to create a top-notch Cinco de Mayo tablescape that will surely impress your guests!
Serapes as Tablecloths
When it comes to throwing a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, the first thing you need to do is forget about using a traditional tablecloth. This holiday is as celebratory and joyful as they come, and that should shine through in your tablescape décor. So instead, cover your table with a colorfully striped serape (a Mexican blanket-like shawl) or a Mexican blanket! Serapes and Mexican blankets are easy to purchase online (many of the major online shopping outlets carry them), so you won’t have any trouble finding one. It might sound strange to opt for a shawl or a blanket instead of a tablecloth, but it will brighten up your table and make for a lovely aesthetic that honors Mexican culture.
[tweetthis]Cover your table with a colorful, striped serape (a Mexican blanket-like shawl) or bright blanket![/tweetthis]
Edible Decorations
Limes, lemons and peppers: All three of these delicious things are common staples in traditional Mexican food. But for your Cinco de Mayo tablescape, you’re not going to set them out to eat; you’re going to use them as decoration! Gather up two bowls, fill one with limes and the other with lemons, then set them on opposite sides of the table. This will make your tablescape color scheme really pop in a playful yet elegant way.
Next, place a large pepper in the center of each plate setting. You can choose to go with the same color pepper for each plate (as in all green or all orange), or you can mix it up and go with different-colored peppers for each one. Either way, your tablescape decorations are going to look great and smell delicious!
Think Outside the Box
You’re going to want your Cinco de Mayo tablescape to really stand out in terms of celebrating the distinct beauty and joy of Mexican culture. So really try to aim for settings that add a fun Mexican flare. For instance, in place of regular salt and pepper shakers, opt instead to fill up small, empty Patrón bottles with salt and pepper. Another fun thing to do is replace your average flower setting with potted cacti. Aim for colorful pots that really make the color scheme pop! Or if you want to have more fun with it, you can set your cactus in an colorful salsa can. This option is very cute and very affordable!
Don’t Forget the Food!
Now that you’ve got your table all set for your Cinco de Mayo fiesta, there’s just one thing left: the food! You’re definitely going to want to set out some delicious snackables for your guests before the main course. Place a brightly-colored tray in the center of the table with bowls of tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole for your guests to munch on. It’ll of course be delicious, but it will also be a colorful treat for the eye. For drinks, a neat idea is to set out small, individual bottles of Patrón for each guest. You can also make a delicious sangria to set out, which will serve as a great pop of color!
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