Hola amigos! May is officially here, and that means Cinco de Mayo is quickly approaching! Most Americans have no idea what Cinco de Mayo is or why it is celebrated (no, it is not Mexican Independence Day) so I went on a mission to provide you with the knowledge and party essentials that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with in order to celebrate this holiday to it’s fullest.

5 things you didn’t know about Cinco de Mayo:

1.  According to Wikipedia, “The holiday commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.”

2. The largest Cinco de Mayo festival is the Festival de Fiesta Broadway right here in Los Angeles.

3. Mexican Independence Day is actually celebrated on September 16th, not May 5th.

4. College students refer to this holiday as “Cinco de Drinko.”

5. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated thoughout the country of Mexico, especially in the state of Puebla and in Mexico City. Americans love the holiday too!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration Essentials

Now that you better understand the fundamentals of this holiday, here’s what you need in order to celebrate properly.

-Tequila

This agave based spirit can bring the spirit to your own Cinco de Mayo celebration. Don’t forget the limes, salt and margarita mix for those who prefer a mixed drink. If you want to get really traditional, in Mexico many people actually sip this alcohol rather than down the whole shot glass at once. If you want to try this, make sure you’re purchasing a nicer (and usually more expensive) version of the drink, like Patron Silver.

-Y Tu Mama Tambien

This strange, sexy movie is fun and will definitely provide a lot of awkward moments if you invite over all your bromantical friends to watch it together. My suggestion: play it in the background for your Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

- Sombrero

This festive hat will come in handy for party photo ops, and for dressing up that token guy who drinks too much tequila and passes out on your couch.

-Guacamole

In my opinion, this is the perfect Mexican accessory. Guacamole goes with everything from chips and salsa, tacos, enchiladas, etc. It’s delish, easy to make, and universally loved among Mexicans and non-Mexicans alike. The best guacamole is fresh and homemade, so if you are ready to take on this task, check out this recipe.