Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the 5th of May every year. Many people celebrate the Mexican-inspired holiday, but few know its history. Cinco de Mayo trivia can be used in group settings to teach about Mexican culture, or as a fun activity for holiday celebrations.
Cinco de Mayo Trivia
Download the Cinco de Mayo Trivia by clicking on the image and selecting the 'download' icon. From there the document, which includes multiple choice questions and an answer key, can be printed for personal use. For troubleshooting tips, take a look at the step-by-step guide.
Holiday History
Cinco de Mayo means 'fifth of May' and commemorates a small victory by a Mexican militia over the French army on May 5, 1862. While this battle did not signal winning the war for Mexico, it helped boost morale during a time of distress around the world.
In the 1930s U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt introduced the Good Neighbor Policy to improve relations with Latin Americans. In the 1950s and 1960s Americans expanded upon this policy by starting to celebrate Latin American culture, including Cinco de Mayo. Although the holiday was not widely celebrated in Mexico, the sentiments of the commemorative date inspired a celebration of the power of the underdog.
Trivia Activities
There are many ways to use trivia questions:
- Hand out trivia questions for an individual quiz. Add a competitive element by requiring a time limit or seeing who gets the most correct answers.
- Use questions and answers in a Jeopardy-style game.
- Create a Bingo board with the answers, then challenge players to know the correct answers and find them on their board.
- Create a competition by having two people race to give the correct answer to each question.
Printable Cinco de Mayo trivia can be used as is or as inspiration for a more creative activity. Consider the number and age of participants when deciding how to use the trivia questions.
Cultural Celebration
While the meaning and activities incorporated into modern day Cinco de Mayo celebrations may not be historically accurate, the day does allow for a multi-cultural celebration that embraces the diversity of the United States. Trivia questions will help people learn factual information while having fun with a little competition.
