Free Printable Cinco de Mayo Word Searches

Word searches are a fun activity and a great way to learn new words, reinforce both spelling and vocabulary, and develop fine motor skills.

These Cinco de Mayo word puzzles are at two different difficulty levels, so there's something for all age groups.

There's no email list to get on and nothing to sign up for. Just click on the link of the puzzle you want to get instant access to the printable worksheet as a pdf file.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

Here in the United States, we tend to think of Cinco de Mayo as an excuse to hang with friends and pig out on chips, salsa, and margaritas -- but believe it or not, that's not actually what the day is about.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday (you probably knew that) that celebrates the [surprising] victory of the Mexican Army over the French on May 5th, 1862.

General Ignacio Zaragoza led an attack in the small village of Puebla, hoping to slow down the French army's advancement toward Mexico City.

This was a particularly big deal because the Mexicans were greatly outnumbered by the France's army -- and the French had not lost a battle in over fifty years.

The fifth of May -- the date of the Battle of Puebla -- was declared a national holiday by President Juarez in September of that year.

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Easy Color Cinco de Mayo Word Search

This word search puzzle has 14 hidden words. None of them are diagonal or backwards. Click here to download.

The black and white version of the puzzle above. Click here to download.

This puzzle is a little more challenging. It has 18 words. Some of the words are a little longer, and they can run diagonally, up, down, or backwards. Click here to download.

Again, the same puzzle, just in black and white this time. Click here to download.