If you are like most people, when you think about Memorial Day weekend, many things come to mind.  Barbecues, family gatherings, vacations–all of these things have become standard Memorial Day fare and with good reason–they are fun and what better time to engage in such things than a long three-day weekend that kicks off the warm weather months!

The truth is, however, that there of course is a far deeper, much more reverent meaning to the Memorial Day holiday that has somehow gotten lost in the quest for All-American style fun.  The true meaning of Memorial Day has almost completely eluded the younger set, which was poignantly illustrated during a survey done by an organization known as “No Greater Love”.  This humanitarian organization conducted a survey of children back in 1996, asking kids why there was a holiday on Memorial Day.  The children’s answers were very heart wrenching as there was much chatter about vacations, barbecues, three-day weekends and local swimming pools finally being open.  There was one huge thing missing amongst the majority of the children surveyed, however, and that was a general knowledge of what Memorial Day was really for, that being to honor and recognize the soldiers who made the most supreme sacrifice of all, by giving their lives in order to preserve the many freedoms that we today can fortunately enjoy.

This organization did a very important thing after these revelatory survey results were brought to light.  A “National Moment of Remembrance” was instituted.  This moment of remembrance would require everyone to stop whatever they were doing at precisely 3:00 pm (local time) on Memorial Day and pause for one full minute of silent reflection.  In some locations “Taps” will be played at 3:00 as well, depending on where you are at this time, of course.  Whether you are in a formal setting or not, there is no reason why you can’t stop and take advantage of this opportunity to pay due homage to our fallen soldiers; it’s the right thing to do!

The point of instituting a “National Moment of Remembrance” was to raise awareness in future generations about Memorial Day and to remind all people of what this special holiday is really about.  The idea of the Memorial Day moment of silence was fully embraced by both the President and Congress and since 1997 it has become an American tradition.  What will you be doing at 3:00 pm on Memorial Day this year?  If you and your family are out and about–enjoying many of the freedoms that many soldiers gave their lives to preserve–by all means, take one minute to show respect, honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in our behalf.

Happy Memorial Day from your friends at Halloween Express!

There is no escaping American’s love of the good ol’ superhero.  In fact, America might arguably be the actual inventor of this beloved character genre. Certainly you could make a very strong case for the superhero being an All-American phenomenon, as most of the really good ones seem to have their origins springing from the pages of American comic books.  

From the 1930’s when Superman was every little kid’s comic book fave, the superhero has been fascinating kids of all ages, and from what we can observe, these amazing characters aren’t going anywhere.  The superhero’s stories and names change over the years, but the theory and essence of what is behind them remains the same.  They are bigger than life, more powerful that us ordinary folks are, and when the day needs to be saved–they have this incredibly innate ability to be there and do just that.  No wonder we love them. 

Science:  There seems to be a scientific commonality or feature that runs through all or at least most superheroes.  This scientific element usually explains how or why they have their special powers.  In some instances, the superhero was exposed to a chemical that caused him to change in an unexplained way.  A powerful spider bite might have some really bizarre effects on a former ordinary human in just the right circumstances.  Other times various mutations have occurred for a variety of reasons, but the result in the case of a superhero is the former normal earthling now has a power or ability that is considered to be superhuman.

Dual-Existence:  Many of the most popular superheroes enjoy a dual existence.  This dual existence gives them a human side that is usually in stark contrast to their superhero side.  The non-superhero, human side of these personas is often kind of nerdy, wimpy and boring although almost always very likable.  By comparison, the superhero side of these characters, when he comes around, is very physical, strong, confident and oddly enough, suddenly much more attractive as well as slightly more aloof.

Mortal Enemies:  In addition to general crime fighting and saving people from various mishaps around town, most superheroes have some kind of mortal enemy, or some may even have several of them.  The enemies these superheroes face often have some pretty unique and special powers of their own, but for whatever reason they have decided to use their powers to perpetuate evil deeds instead of good.  This conflict always makes for a really great good vs. evil story, as this is invariably the bread and butter of what a good superhero flick is all about.

Comic Books:  Most superheroes began their stories in the pages of a comic book.  These stories were translated into cartoons and television but in the last few decades, superhero movies have become some of the biggest hits and blockbusters out there.  This year is no exception with Iron Man 3 recently being released and this summer more superhero movies are on the horizon.  (Man of Steel (June14), and The Wolverine (July 26) just to name a couple.) 

Costumes:  Okay, maybe you’d prefer to think of them as “suits” but whatever you want to call them, the proper clothing or “gear” for any superhero is the heart and soul of his very essence.  If you want to recreate a superhero look, getting the costume just right is important.  Kids love to dress up as their favorite superheroes any time just for having fun and using their imagination.  Grown ups enjoy getting into their favorite superhero looks as well, whether for a costume party, comic convention or any number of functions that make being a superhero both fun and exciting. 

With heroic looks like Batman, Robin, Superman, Spiderman, Iron Man, X-Men, Hellboy, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Wonder Woman…(phew) and many, many more–you will easily be able to find whatever your favorite superhero look is in our huge superhero costume collection.  With realistic details and stunning features, these superhero costumes are exactly what you’ve been looking for to help you bring out those special powers you’ve likely been keeping under wraps.  Get into one of these fabulous looks today, no phone booth necessary.

No, you do not get to take the summer off, nor will you even want to. Gone are the days of old school summertime TV.  What used to consist of thirteen long and dreary weeks of reruns has now been transformed into a whole new and glorious season of television viewing pleasure! And let me tell you, this summer’s TV season is looking pretty entertaining.  It’s time to set those DVR’s or renew your Hulu subscription because some of these shows you will definitely not want to miss! 

The summer television season lasts basically from right now until approximately late September–or whenever the major networks get around to unleashing their fall television schedules.  There are lots of hot new shows to look forward to on the smaller screen, so get ready!  Which shows are you most excited about?

Summer TV Highlights:  Some Of The Most Anticipated TV Shows For The Summer Of 2013:

1. Breaking Bad:  AMC-August 11th.  The final 8 episodes of this gripping drama are set to air beginning late summer.
2. Dexter:  Showtime-June 30th.  The final season winding up the good guy serial killer’s tale. 
3. Under The Dome:  CBS-June 24.  A mysterious invisible dome suddenly appears and cuts off an entire small town from the rest of the world. Based on a Stephen King novel. 
4. True Blood:  HBO-June 16.  One of our picks for obvious reasons, namely: vampires, werewolves, fairies and a whole plethora of other supernatural beings! 
5. Hannibal:  NBC-Thursdays 10 PM. Technically since this show has already been going for a few weeks, it may not exactly qualify for this list. However, if you haven’t been watching it, you should be.  This very chilling thriller based on the character Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), is quite simply, a masterpiece.
6. Teen Wolf:  MTV-June 13.  A social outcast high school student named Scott McCall is bitten by a werewolf while searching for a dead girl in the woods.  Scott now tries to hide his new secret identity and still maintain a normal high school life.
7. Game Of Thrones:  HBO-Sunday 9 PM. Season 3 premiered March 31.  HB0’s fantasy series in unlike anything you’ve ever seen before! Mesmerizing!
8. Marvel’s Avengers Ensemble:  Disney XD-July 7. The most amazing team of superheroes ever assembled–Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye and Black Widow are reunited along with a groovy newcomer, Falcon to join forces and do what superheroes do best–save the world and other stuff.
9. The Killing:  AMC-June 2.  Honestly, one of the best dramas going. 
10.  Longmire:  A&E-May 27.  This may have been last summer’s best new detective show.  Wyoming County Sheriff Walt Longmire lacks the skill of most fancy TV crime fighters but he has grit, determination and the help of his friends.

Get ready for a summer of hot, hot, hot new shows and a TV season that promises lots of thrills and chills for your entire family.  And the best part is–there’s not a rerun amongst them! 

The long awaited film“The Great Gatsby” hit theatres this past weekend. The infamous F. Scott Fitzgerald story that many of us remember reading as part of our high school curriculum, has now been gloriously transformed into a silver screen version, bringing to pass a truly marvelous film that is likely to set the costume and fashion worlds on fire.  Gatsby style has been the talk of the town and in case you haven’t heard, adaptations of these styles may be headed quickly to a store near you!

The story of the Great Gatsby takes place during the roaring twenties, a time that historically has already been considered one of great fashion revolution.  Women of the twenties were considered to be fashion rebels, dumping the corsets and petticoats of prior decades and instead embracing a far more free form, a straighter and almost boyish silhouette, with much shorter hemlines to boot.  During the time period of the Great Gatsby, fashions were truly unique and unlike anything that women had worn before.  In the story of the Great Gatsby, another dimension of style is also added to the film.  Decadent luxury.  Stunning (and expensive) jewelry was worn with elaborate headdresses.  Skirt lengths were going up, and women’s hairstyles were getting shortly bobbed. 

Creating a “Gatsby” look of your own is pretty easy.  For women, the “Flapper” style dress, fringe and all, is going to be a popular look for any upcoming costume parties you may be gearing up for.  Complete the “Gatsby” look with long strands of pearls, headdresses with feathers and even an ultra glamorous feather boa. When it comes to creating an authentic “Gatsby” look, no amount of luxury is too much, so when it comes to glam, pull out all the stops and you will be getting close!  Check out our Charleston Cutie costume, which comes complete with all the extra accoutrements you will need to really pull of the ultimate, truly Gatsby-inspired costume look. 

For you guys out there that want to sport the classic Gatsby look, think “Brooks Brothers”.  The timeless looking jacket with peaked lapels, matching trousers, and a point-collared shirt is a great place to start.  You will want to have a crisp looking vest, perhaps a pocket square and maybe if you are going all out–a nice pair of cufflinks.  Adding some exciting twenties style accessories will complete your Gatsby look.  Two-toned oxford shoes and a Newsboy style cap will also send you off in the right direction! 

Recreating the indulgent looks found in the new movie, “The Great Gatsby” is one of the hottest costume trends out there.  You will not want to wait to pick up one of these incredible costume looks!  Shop our exciting collection of 1920’s styled costumes and get into one of these fabulous retro looks now! 

Think back.  For many of us, it was like our mom had this sixth sense, a high tech kind of radar that enabled her to sniff out trouble.  No matter how much innocence was proclaimed, mom could always get to the truth and before you even knew what was happening, you had made a full confession and were grounded for a month.  Yeah, moms are like that.  Even if you are all grown up now you may not be completely out of the woods when it comes to being in your mom’s proverbial doghouse.  She would never say anything.  She would just smile and say “thank you”.  But somehow you would know you’d blown it.  Mother’s Day is the one thing you don’t want to screw up and we are here to help.  Here is our top five list of gifts your mom does NOT want for Mother’s Day!

1. Home Appliances.  Your mom likely spent years (okay most of her life!) cleaning up after you and believe me, it probably was no picnic.  Washing clothes, washing dishes, cleaning house, picking up stinky socks off your bedroom floor–well, it’s all part of being a mom, but this stuff likely was not her favorite part.  There are many joys involved in motherhood; housework is likely not one of them.  On Mother’s Day there is no need to remind her of the drudgery.  You might be thinking mom will be impressed with your ability to be practical.  Trust me, your mom does not want you to be practical on Mother’s Day in spite of what she might say.  Get her something that is a little bit self-indulgent that she may not want to buy for herself.  Chances are if it has a “plug” it’s a big NO.
2. Lingerie.  Um, don’t get me wrong here.  I’m a big fan of the girly stuff and most women do really love lingerie.  The problem lies in the fact that lingerie is a very intimate gift with a definite sexual vibe–thus, getting a gift like this from your kid (at any age) is just (in a word) weird.  If you are a male child then a lingerie gift may even border on being creepazoidal.  Don’t put your mom through this most ultimately awkward Mother’s Day scenario–ever.
3. Makeover.  You have to be very careful about buying your mom one of the ever-popular spa packages that are out there around Mom’s Day.  If the word “makeover” is in the advertising anywhere, steer clear.  A day filled with massage, a facial, and a mani-pedi is cool, but as soon as you send your mom to be “made over” you may have inadvertently sent her the wrong message.  A makeover gift says, “You’ve been so busy taking care of me, wiping my nose, and hauling my butt to soccer practice that you’ve kinda let yourself go”–uh, don’t even go there.
4. Diet or Fitness Products:  These gifts kind of send the same message as the makeover does–telling mom that she needs some sprucing up on Mother’s Day is just not cool.  A better alternative would be to invite your mom on an active activity that you know she is going to love, the best part being that she gets to spend time with her special kid.  (YOU!) 
5. Cookbooks:  Whether your mom is a great cook or a really lousy one is beside the point.  Your mom likely has already spent hours (okay, maybe even years) in the kitchen cooking all your favorite foods and probably one too many boxes of Mac ‘n cheese.  Spare her the cookbook as no matter how good your intentions really are, you are still telling her that she needs to up the ante on her cooking game.  If you have already moved out of the house, she likely just cooks what she likes, anyway.  If you are still living in her basement, you are really treading on thin ice by giving her a cookbook, just saying. 

Honorable Mention No-No’s:  Generally speaking, you may want to avoid empty picture frames (put a nice photo in that thing, you lazy child!), bathing implements or bath soaps, (she has plenty of this stuff from prior years and is likely trying to still use it up!) and lastly, purses.  Your mom is likely enjoying picking out her own sleeker styled, fashionable purses now that she doesn’t have to carry around half the house with her in order to meet all your growing up needs.

Mother’s Day gift giving doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful.  In fact, getting mom the perfect gift can even reap great rewards.  Get this right and you will remain your mama’s little angel forevermore, or at least for another year. 

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.“
~Mark Twain

Mother’s Day is less than a week away. Have you thought about what you are going to do for your mom this year?  Mom deserves the best–after all, who is always there to love and support you through thick and thin?  Always your number one fan, your mom is that one person you can always count on to be in your corner.  So, before you pick up that phone and order the same bouquet of flowers that you probably got her last year, let me tell you what she really wants!

Sleep:  Let’s face it; Moms of the world can be exhausted creatures.  With all the over-scheduling, juggling and multi-tasking that moms do on a daily basis there is little time for rest, let alone any quiet time.  By the time moms fall into bed at night they are often fully worn out and completely spent, only to start the whole routine over again the next day.  It’s not fancy, expensive, nor can it be gift wrapped in pretty paper–but giving your mom the gift of a “no-alarm” sleep-in day with absolutely no reason for her to have to get up and go on duty–well, that may very well be the best gift of all.

It Last’s Forever:  Mom’s are sentimental creatures, so if you are going to get her flowers or a plant, why not opt for a variety that you can plant for mom out in the yard.  A tree will be a continual reminder of a Mother’s Day well spent as well as being a trigger for fond memories that will last a lifetime.  A blooming rosebush or other flowering plant is also a lovely choice that your mom is going to really appreciate. 

Plant A Garden Together:  This has become an annual event for Mother’s Day at my house because I really don’t enjoy the actual planting of my garden as much as I enjoy tending it and watching it grow throughout the summer months.  I treasure the family bonding time I have with my kids as we are working on our garden-planting project outdoors together.  As the summer progresses and the fruits and veggies start to be harvested, the garden then becomes a gift that keeps on giving for months and months to come.

Clean Your Room:  It may sound crazy but your mom would love it if for Mother’s Day you cleaned your room. (Not her room, YOUR room.)  Not just minor straightening, but really clean it from stem to stern.  It will make her feel like she has done her duty as a mother when you show her that you really do know how to do it and can follow through on the complete task.  Who knows?  You may decide to keep it that way, too!

Detail Her Car:  Sometimes us moms live in our cars more than we do in our homes which can mean our cars get a little messy.  Wash your mom’s car, vacuum it and clean it thoroughly.  Add a fragrant car freshener when you are finished.  Not only will she be surprised, but she will also be so thrilled that you thought to do it for her.

Write Something Sentimental: When my son was in 7th grade he wrote me a poem that I still have on my fridge. The older kids get, the harder it is for them to express those tender feelings they have for their mom, thus writing them down for her truly can become priceless.  Be warned though (as in my case) your words to mom may be showcased someplace for many years to come.

Gift Of You:  More than anything else in this world, mom’s want to share Mother’s Day with their kids.  Make sure you plan to spend some time with yours because no gift can really offer up what quality time spent with her can.  Take pictures of your time together and frame one to give to her later as these memories will always be something cherished and really meaningful to your mom.

Happy Mother’s Day from your friends at Halloween Express! 

If ever there were a month of the year that gets me excited, it’s got to be May.  To me May seems like the annual drum roll month that really sets a tone of anticipation and excitement for the upcoming warm-weather months, getting everyone excited about what is to come soon enough and that is summer! Today seems like a great day to get you pumped up about May…summer…and all the good things that come with it. 

Star Wars Day:  Really?  A play on words taken from an infamous Star Wars line, has now become a full-fledged day for Star Wars fans everywhere to celebrate.  “May the Force Be With You,” sounds a lot like “May the fourth be with you”.  May the fourth is now the officially sanctioned day to dress up in your best Star Wars Costumes, watch Star Wars movies and have Star Wars themed costume parties. 

Summer Movie Blockbuster Season: Did you see Iron Man 3 yet?  Iron Man 3 is the first of a whole series of heavy hitter movies that are set to hit the theatres this summer, all of which are bound to thrill and delight summer movie audiences everywhere. What do you have to look forward to?  Well, it’s time to get excited about “The Great Gatsby”(May 10), “Star Trek Into Darkness” (May 17), “Man of Steel” (June 14), “Monster’s University” (June 21), “Fast and Furious 6” (May 24), “World War Z”  (June 21), “The Wolverine” (July 26).  And trust me…this list is just the beginning.  If you are a movie fan, this could be your summer!

Cinco De Mayo (May 5):  This south of the border sentimental favorite has kind of become the Mexican version of St. Patrick’s Day.  Yes, it’s a great excuse to party…Mexican style, of course!  Believe it or not, outside of Puebla, Mexico this holiday is celebrated in Mexico about at the same level Arbor Day is celebrated here in the U.S.  Not a huge deal, folks, but if you need an excuse to wear your serape and sombrero while eating lots of Mexican food (my personal fave) today is the day!

Mother’s Day (May 12):  This is a holiday designed to pay tribute to as well as to honor the mother’s of the world. Take this chance to thank your mom for her endless love and support because after all, you have no bigger fan in the world other than your beloved mom.  As for you mom’s out there–what woman doesn’t enjoy being queen for the day?  Enjoy the extra love and attention as for most of us this sort of thing only happens once a year.

Memorial Day (May 27): Memorial Day culminates the first three-day weekend of the warm weather months, and for most, Memorial Day kicks off the summer season.  (Even though technically Memorial Day happens in the spring.)  Memorial Day is a revered holiday that is set aside to honor those brave men and women that lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed forces.  The many freedoms we enjoy today can be attributed to those willing to fight and make the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve these privileges we hold so dear.  Take a moment to show your gratitude and reverence on this very special holiday!

There is so much to get excited about and to enjoy this month.  Get ready to welcome in May!

May 3rd is opening day for the latest installment of Iron Man.  Iron Man 3 rings the opening bell, kicking off the summertime blockbuster movie season. This film, based on the Marvel comic book series, promises to give moviegoers plenty to get excited about.  Here are a few reasons why we think you should get out and see Iron Man 3!

Robert Downey Jr.:  Okay, so his acting skills are completely unsurpassed and his edgy bad boy image is kind of a turn on.  Frankly, Robert Downey Jr. simply rocks this Iron man gig as he reprises his role as the billionaire playboy, Tony Stark.  Who says action flicks are just for the guys?  Not with this much raw machismo as well as eye candy like this.  I don’t even care that Gwyneth Paltrow apparently claimed that RDJ was afraid of the Iron Man suit and thus called him wimpy. He’s still a complete badass in my book. 

The Story:  The plotline in Iron Man 3 picks up shortly after the events that were depicted in “The Avengers” occurred.  Tony Stark clearly is deeply affected by some of these circumstances and in Iron Man 3, Tony Stark’s mental state seems somewhat fragile as he teeters on the edge of having post traumatic stress induced panic attacks.

Extremis:  Extremis, invented by Dr. Maya Hansen, is one of those crazy inventions we just love, love, love to see both in comic books and the films that come out of them.  Basically, Extremis is a substance that once injected into someone, has the ability to help the body to regenerate itself and it promotes a turbo kind of healing that works like nobody’s biz…well, most of the time anyway.  Check out some of the details on Extremis here:

Costumes:  Okay, around here we call them costumes, but in Iron Man 3, they are just more cool suits with groovy toys for Tony Stark, all as part of his new-fangled Iron Man get ups.  There are even ways for Tony to control his suits when he himself is not actually wearing them.  Interesting…

Iron Patriot:  The U.S. Government has given a bit of a makeover to the former alter ego of Iron Man 2, namely War Machine.  There’s always room for another fantastic hero, right? Decked out purposely in red, white and blue the Iron Patriot completely lives up to his name.  Check out the Iron Patriot in action:

We LOVE Halloween, and we know you do, too.  Halloween has propelled itself to being the second most popular holiday celebrated in this country and with good reason.  Who doesn’t love getting all dressed up in costumes?  Who doesn’t love candy?  Who doesn’t love parties?  Who doesn’t love all sorts of scary and spooky fun?  There is one downside to Halloween, however and sadly it is this.  Halloween only comes once a year!  Bleh!  We think that once a year is just too infrequent to bask in all the joys of Halloween so we are stepping it up a bit and causing a little spooky revolution.  April 30 is hereby noted as an important milestone and we hope that you will celebrate it with us.  April 30th is officially “Halfway To Halloween!”

Halfway to Halloween is the perfect opportunity for you Halloween/Horror/Costume fans out there to have some serious Halloween-style fun when it’s not even Halloween. Why wait until October the 31st?  A springtime Halfway to Halloween celebration can have some virtues of it’s own. Here are some of our best costume ideas if you are thinking (as we do) that celebrating “Halfway to Halloween” might be the greatest springtime idea ever!

Monster Mash:  Invite your friends over for a Horror-lover’s fest. Dress up as your favorite monsters, including zombies, vampires, werewolves and creepy ghosts.  Really get into it and have contests for the scariest look, the most complete transformation and the most original horror costume. 

Photo Contest:  You and your friends can celebrate “Halfway To Halloween” by using social media apps.  Get into your best costume look –really go all out with makeup and details– and then take some really groovy pictures of yourself.  Post your best photos on Facebook or Instagram.  Hash-tag your pics #halfwaytohalloween! 

Springtime Costume Party:  You can skip the horror stuff and save it for later and instead have a spring/summer costume party that is going to definitely spell F-U-N.

• Throw a Hawaiian-themed luau or BBQ for you and all your friends.  Have all your guests wear leis, grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, etc.
• Kids of all ages will really dig having a superhero themed party–invite all the guests to dress up as their favorite superhero and play competitive games focused around the superhero characters.
• Have a “tween”-age girl at your house?  Well this age group is going to love any dress up party with a pop-rock dress up theme and lots of music to go with it.
• Grown-ups or older teenagers will really get into a “dress as a celebrity” themed party. 

Springtime Costumes:  There are lots of really cool costumes that have more of a spring or summertime vibe to them.  Why not give some of these warmer weather looks a try now?  Springtime costume get-togethers seem like the perfect time to try some of our more summery looks like bugs, flowers, fruits, veggies, garden gnomes and fairies, just to name a few.

A great holiday isn’t always around when you need it, so why wait for Halloween when NOW is the perfect time for getting into a great costume and having some serious warm-weather fun.  Happy Halfway to Halloween! 

Hola fanáticos del traje! Si quieres aprender un poco sobre el Cinco de Mayo, has venido al lugar correcto!  Whoa, whoa, whoa and my sincerest apologies.  All this thinking about Cinco de Mayo, however has really gotten me excited, even to the point that I am mistakenly writing this blog in Spanish.  Let me start this again.  Hello costume fans, if you want to learn a little about Cinco de Mayo, you’ve come to the right place!  You don’t have to be from Mexico to really get into the spirit and fun that can be found by celebrating this exciting holiday that hails from our Mexican neighbors to the south.  Here are a few of the Cinco de Mayo basics:

The History Behind Cinco de Mayo:  Once upon a time back in 1862, a very powerful French army decided to head to Mexico and fight it’s way through the country down into Mexico City, where it was their intent to try and force the Mexican government to pay up on some old outstanding debts.  The French Army was very well equipped, superbly trained, and early on in their battles in Mexico they had been pretty much destroying all that came into their path.  Here’s where things get interesting, folks.  When the French army hit a town called Puebla (on May the 5th of course) a very surprising thing happened.  Although the Mexican soldiers in Puebla were largely untrained, had few battle skills and were also equipped with some pretty lousy equipment, somehow, quite miraculously, this scrappy army of novices was able to defeat the elite French army and drive them out of Puebla.  Now that’s cause for celebration hombres!

Cinco De Mayo Today:  A lot of people here in the U.S. are confused about Cinco De Mayo and mistakenly assume that this holiday is Mexican Independence Day.  No, no, no, no mis amigos!  Mexican Independence Day actually happens on September 16–we must keep our holidays straight!  Cinco de Mayo is a holiday dedicated to celebrating the battle win that happened that glorious day in Puebla, Mexico. Interestingly enough, Cinco de Mayo isn’t a huge deal down in Mexico outside of the town of Puebla.  Mexican people now living in the U.S. however, have brought the fun along with the true south of the border flavor that is associated with Cinco de Mayo, into the U.S. and this holiday has now been fully embraced by many.

For some of us, Cinco de Mayo may just be another reason to eat fabulous Mexican food while downing a few Margaritas.  For others, Cinco de Mayo has become a celebration of an event in past history that brings with it great pride, as well as it being an opportunity to share Mexican customs and culture with the masses. Fantástico!

Getting into the spirit of Cinco de Mayo is pretty easy.  From sombreros to maracas, May the 5th is your chance to embrace some of the more exciting elements of Mexican culture and really get in on what promises to be a really exciting celebration. Don’t miss out on the Cinco de Mayo fun! Olé!