Eating traditional Mexican food such as tacos, burritos, rice, beans and drinking horchata, tequila, fruit flavored sodas.  Children striking a piñata stuffed with candy and hoisted up in the air usually tied to a tree, hoping to destroy it allowing the candy fall to the ground.

Its estimated that approximately 126 million liters of tequila is consumed during the duration of cinco de mayo. 

The holiday is celebrated every 5th day in Ma primarily by Mexicans and Mexican Americans to commemorate the famous Battle of Puebla 1862.  Even though Mexico didn't win the Franco-Mexican war this victory against the French Empire is seen historically as an important step towards the countries independence years later.  The holiday is also often confused as a day to celebrate Mexican Independence, however the day actually honors the hard fought battle led by General Ignacio Zaragoza in which the Mexican Army was out numbered and out gunned.  This outcome was very significant because against the odds of a larger force and the fighting spirit of the men enabled them to win the battle and begin a new since of patriotism, pride and confidence that would serve the country well in its pursuit of independence.   Although the day is to recognize and achievement by Mexico, the holiday is also widely celebrated in United States.  There were many Mexican miners in the town of Columbia in California and it has been reported that once the miners heard about the victory, started to celebrate with gunfire, fireworks, food and drink.