Gerardo Ortiz, Luis Coronel & More Latin Artists Share Cinco de Mayo Traditions: Exclusive

This year, Cinco de Mayo is looking quite different for many Latin artists who typically spend the holiday onstage.

Forced to stay indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic, regional Mexican artists like Gerardo Ortiz, Luis Coronel and Kris Nava (T3R Elemento) will get to spend Cinco de Mayo, also known as the Battle of Puebla, with their families.

They will make the most out of the holiday that celebrates the Mexican army's victory over France on May 5, 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War.

From family cookouts to horseback riding, Latin artists tell Billboard how they will spend their Cinco de Mayo.

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Gerardo Ortiz

I tend to work on this day but when I don't, I usually spend quality time with my family. We typically do a cook out. We love to make some good mariscos and carne asada. This year we had a few shows in honor of ‪Cinco de Mayo‬ which had to be postponed due to this pandemic. I'll spend it quarantined at home, have dinner and maybe watch a good movie.

T3R Elemento's Kris Nava

For the past three years, I’ve been on the road working non-stop so I never really got to spend time with my family since I started singing at 14 years old. Now, due to COVID-19, I’ve been able to spend more quality time with my family. This year will be the first time I’ll be able to spend Cinco de Mayo with my family since I started working. I love mariscos and both of my parents cook so I hope I get a little spoiled. We will be spending Cinco de mayo at our ranch in Arizona just me and my immediate family.

Luis Coronel

There is no holiday that we don't take advantage of as a family to eat together. It's what makes the most pleasant memories. We like to celebrate the day with a carne asada, guacamole, frijoles charros and some tortillas. We’re not letting this pandemic discourage us from celebrating our tradition this year, safely. It’s also our opportunity to celebrate that the family is home together, healthy and everyone is doing well during these difficult times.

Voz de Mando's Jorge Gaxiola

I like to go horseback riding with my friends and drink some chelas (beers). There’s some great stables near Santa Ana, California. And I love artisanal brews.

Chiquis: 

We definitely make tacos and it's my mom's recipe so that's usually what we do, either carne asada or my mom's "La Gran Señora" chicken tacos that she used to make with her special salsa and of course, a shot or three of tequila. That's the annual tradition. And, while I was cooking earlier today while listening to Antonio Aguilar and I feel that his music represents all of music and he has always been a warrior. Usually for Cinco de Mayo, we go to my compadre's bar and they have a huge celebration or a barbecue at one of my family's house so the pandemic did impact our plans but we're still going to celebrate, still going to have a cookout, drink some tequila and make the best of it. I'm just making the best out of this quarantine Cinco de Mayo celebration.