A pinata is another way to add south-of-the-border zing to your Cinco de Mayo bash.

Here are 6 Mexican traditions you can incorporate into your Cinco de Mayo celebration:

1. A toast to happiness
When toasting at a Mexican celebration, pour the last seven drops of a bottle of wine into the glass of a person you wish to honor. Those drops are called "gotas de la felicidad" (drops of happiness) and are believed to bring happiness to the person who gets them.

2. Don't pass the salt.
Mexican tradition holds that it's bad luck to pass a salt shaker directly into anyone's hands at dinner. Doing so will make them "salado" (salted), or jinxed. If someone asks for the salt, place it on the table in front of them.

3. Linger to talk
Encourage your guests prepared to stick around after you eat the flan for desert. In Mexico, the "sobre mesa" (talk around the table after a meal) can last for hours.

4. Spend the night
If the celebration is in the evening, invite guests to stay overnight and serve them breakfast.

5. Tequila Pointers
White tequila is the best for mixed drinks, reposado or anejo tequila is best for sipping.

6. Happy eating
"Buen provecho" means "Have good meal." Tell your guests that before they dig in to the enchiladas.

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