Snow Melt

Wildcard Monday: Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead

The May 6, 2013 prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS"  is
Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, or the Day of the Dead. Research the holiday and some of the traditions. Do you celebrate it? On the topic of holiday traditions, what is the most preposterous holiday tradition you continue to celebrate? (This does not have to be restricted to Cinco de Mayo traditions)

Cinco de Mayo (meaning "fifth of May" in Spanish) was originally celebrated to commemorate El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of the Puebla).1 On May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army, lead by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, defeat French troops at the Battle of Puebla; while in the United States the celebration of Mexican heritage.2

The Day of the Dead (which in Spanish is Día de Muertos) is a celebrated to remember those family and friends who have died and occurs on November 1 and2.3 To commemorate these two days alters are built to honor those who have passed on; placed on the alters are marigolds, the favorite foods of the deceased, and sugar skulls.4

Footnotes
1  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
2  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
3  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
4  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead