What do you Give People for Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is a fun holiday observed by many Americans. While it is steeped in Mexican history, lots of Americans celebrate the day as one to enjoy authentic Mexican fare and make it a special day. It is a time for festivities and gift-giving! This is a great time for little gifts to commemorate the day and take advantage of this special occasion.
Before we get into the best gift cards to give in Cinco de Mayo, let’s talk about the history of this great day.
History of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday celebrating the date the Mexican army triumphed over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War on May 5, 1862. It is a minor holiday in Mexico, but in the United States, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations have evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.
There is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, but it is not. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th, marking the Grito de Dolores in 1810. Mexico elected its first president, Benito Juárez, in 1861 but was in financial ruin after many strife-filled years.
The new president had to default on debt payments with many European governments. That was not taken well. France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Mexico, demanding payment. After negotiations, Britain and Spain withdrew their forces, but France remained. The nation, led by Napoleon III, saw this as a ripe opportunity to capture territory in Mexico and expand its empire. In late 1861, French forces stormed Veracruz and forced the Mexican forces into a fast retreat.
The Battle of Puebla
The French forces attacked Puebla with 6,000 men and were met with a force of 2,000 loyal Mexican forces who fortified the town and made the most of their few armaments. On May 5th, 1862, French troops besieged the city of Puebla all day. They did not break the defensive lines. As the battle ground to a halt, 500 French soldiers lay slain, and 100 Mexican soldiers died on the other side. The confidence left the French soldiers, and they withdrew, leaving Mexico with their tails tucked square between their legs.
Many Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with delicious authentic Mexican foods and drinks. Cinco de Mayo is also a typical time for gift-giving! Let’s jump into what you give people for Cinco de Mayo.
Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for Cinco de Mayo with Gift Card Granny
As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny as of this writing. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s jump right into our list!
Top Cinco de Mayo Gift Cards
1. Chipotle
A giant burrito to celebrate the big day
Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate authentic Mexican cuisine. While Chipotle is not the top-of-the-line, it still delivers excellent burritos and burrito bowls quickly and at a low price. This gift card is great for people on the move, perhaps on years when Cinco de Mayo falls in the middle of the week, and they may not have the time to sit down and enjoy a luxurious Mexican meal at a local restaurant or cook one for themselves.
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday this year, opening up more possibilities for gift-giving. We have Chipotle at spot one on this list because, as a chain restaurant, there is bound to be a location nearby where your friend can spend their gift card. A food-related Cinco-de-Mayo gift card extends far beyond Chipotle. A local Mexican restaurant or taqueria makes excellent choices for gift cards on Cinco de Mayo. Does your friend have a restaurant they bring up regularly, or one where they are often found? If so, that’s your place!
2. Whole Foods
A gift card for chefs
Whole Foods gift cards are for your bold friends who have plans to cook a feast on this Cinco de Mayo. There are so many unique dishes to make a fantastic meal for family and friends this year, and many people prepare special meals to celebrate this day. This is the perfect Cinco de Mayo gift card for chefs.
Gifting ingredients during any gifting season is a tricky proposition. They are hard to ship, but most importantly, knowing what ingredients your friend needs is tough. That’s where a gift card comes in! Whole Foods is a great place to find fun foods and ingredients. If you know they like to cook, do some research and find a recipe or two! Cooks love inspiration to try something new, and a recipe tucked into the envelope puts a great personal touch on your Cinco de Mayo gift.
3. Caribou Coffee
Coffee makes a great gift at any time of the year
Buy a Caribou Coffee gift card
There are plenty of excellent options with a Caribou Coffee gift card. They offer ground coffee, whole beans, accessories, and apparel. Coffee is the perfect start to the day. This is our favorite gift card for friends who drink coffee daily but have the same cup every single day. It’s time to shake things up!
With seasonal flavors and year-long favorites, your friend can choose the blend they want and receive weeks of delicious morning coffee. A gift card is great because it lets them decide on the coffee they want. There are so many amazing coffee drinks. Some people love complicated drinks and have a serious coffee bar, some people start the day with a simple cup of black coffee, and many in between. All of those people are valid! They all deserve a delicious bag of coffee.
Buy a Caribou Coffee gift card
4. Starbucks
Like we said, coffee is always welcome
In the same vein is our Starbucks gift card. A gift card to Starbucks is perfect for every coffee lover, giving them the joy of a few free coffee drinks that are always tasty. A gift card to Starbucks or a local cafe is a great way to shake up the daily routine even more, especially if they are people who brew their coffee in the morning. The expense of going to Starbucks or ordering coffee out is enough to keep some people away, and a gift card is a perfect incentive. Starbucks is a great part of a daily routine or a great treat every once in a while, but people who don’t often go to cafes are really missing out! There is something special about ordering a cup of coffee with all the fixings you want.
5. Beer Drop
Did someone call for cervezas?
Beer drop is a spectacular gift card for Cinco de Mayo. If there is one thing that makes a Cinco de Mayo party it is the beer! Cervezas are a staple, and Beer Drop lets your friend pick out a six-pack of whatever beers catch their eye. The mix-and-match six packs are great ways to try new beers and discover delicious new brews. Beer Drop offers a tremendous selection of craft beers from around the country that can be purchased individually or in a box, meaning they choose every beer shipped right to their door.
Beer Drop has a selection of hundreds of beers, guaranteeing that they have styles and brews that even the most devout beer lover hasn’t encountered. You can tag some beers you think they will like or bring this card along with a six-pack to their party to ensure the good time never stops.
6. Walmart
A gift card for supplies
Walmart is an excellent store when you’ve got to go out and get something. Nothing specific, but sometimes you realize, on the day of the party, that you don’t have any paper plates! Or something like that. That’s where a gift card to Walmart really shines. It is not quite as exciting as some of the other cards on this list, but it is reliable. Keeping this gift card in the back pocket of their wallet for the moment (and there is always a moment) that they need something from the store is certain to make the trip a much better excursion.
7. Amazon
Margaritas, glassware, and all of your Cinco de Mayo needs!
Amazon gift cards are great for any occasion, and Cinco de Mayo is no exception. While not the most exciting, an Amazon gift card always returns its value. There is always another item to order on Amazon, and these gift cards are added straight to the portal and go into the recipient’s account. From there, they are automatically added to the next order and the savings pile in. We recommend Amazon gift cards to pragmatic recipients who are happy with a monetary gift rather than something that leads them to a new experience. In terms of Cinco de Mayo, this is not quite a party gift but it is a great way to celebrate the holiday, and small Amazon gift cards make amazing game prizes, if you are into that kind of thing.
Unfortunately, you can’t get an Amazon gift card on Gift Card Granny quite yet, but check back soon! We’re always adding more retailers.
And those are our favorite gift cards for Cinco de Mayo!
Gift cards are phenomenal gifts for any occasion. A gift card for Cinco de Mayo lets the recipient extend the celebration into the following few days or weeks, or whenever they spend your card. Getting a holiday-themed gift card is always fun, and we love the thought.
Before you go: What to Bring to a Cinco de Mayo Party
While gift cards are awesome, they do not bring something to the party. They are a great way to thank the host or spread love, but if you’ve got to bring food, a drink, or a game, they might not be the best option. So, let’s jump into some things to bring to your Cinco de Mayo party. Let’s start with something simple: Drinks
Drinks
There are a wide variety of amazing Cinco de Mayo drinks, both alcoholic or non-alcoholic, that make a great impact on the party. Beer is a classic, especially cervezas. Corona, Modelo, and Tecate are all great items. Margaritas make another fun option, and if you want to spice it up just a little bit, you can bring palomas instead. Margaritas are widely enjoyed and are excellent in every party.
Food
This is another common item to bring and has a huge variety of options. It is a bit overwhelming to figure out the right thing to bring. Before you fall down a recipe rabbit hole, are you bringing an appetizer or an entree? That helps start narrowing down your options. For appetizers, chips, and dip are great, bite-sized entrees are excellent, and you can always go with something not directly related to Cinco de Mayo, like a fruit or veggie platter. As an entree, we recommend going with something that has cheese, some meat, and is wrapped in a tortilla. For this, we think you should go with something that’s easy to eat!
Games
If you are bringing a game if you have the bandwidth for it, a pinata is the best of the best. If not, a simple yard game like cornhole or cards if you are indoors are very good options. Something easy.
Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at Gift Card Granny, where you can earn cashback and rewards on all of your gift card purchases.
From all of us here at Gift Card Granny, happy shopping!