By tamaraThe number five is everywhere – in music, literature, sports and more! Without it, some things just wouldn’t be the same. For example, could you imagine how weird it would be if there were only four Olympic rings instead of five (sorry Australia!) or the Pentagon had only four sides? Don’t forget about your feet. Flip-flops would never look right with just four toes. In England, children can start drinking alcohol at the age of five (at home), which may explain why the U.K. is number six on the list of ‘Smartest Countries in the World’ and the U.S. is number two. Even nature is hooked on the number five. Cut open an apple and you’ll find five seeds. Many species of starfish have five arms (Patrick!) and wild roses have five petals. It’s easy to fall in love with the number five when you see how much influence it has in our lives. Here are five other reasons why I think five is fabulous! 1. Cinco de Mayo Many people mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day, but it actually commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. It’s not even a federal holiday in Mexico, but that doesn’t stop me (and the rest of the United States) from celebrating on May 5. Cinco de Mayo is an excuse to throw a Mexican-themed party, complete with my favorite Spanish dishes and drinks. You can even score some freebies at local restaurants or get amazing 2-for-1 deals at bars. So grab your sombrero and have some fun! 2. High-Five Up high, down low – too slow! Sporting games and victories would never be the same without a high-five from your teammates or best friends. Without saying a word, this simple gesture can fill you with pride and boost your confidence. Before we can even walk, our parents teach us to master the high-five. We use it to tease our siblings, embarrass our friends, or celebrate acing our college exams. Life as we know it just wouldn’t be the same with a high-two or high-four. Give me five or go home. 3. Five-Second Rule Have you ever been eating something totally delicious and accidentally dropped it on the floor? Thank goodness for the five-second rule or you’d be out of luck. Just imagine how much food is saved from landfills thanks to this glorious little, unwritten rule. I don’t know if there is any scientific proof that can back up my parents’ claim that germs need longer than five seconds to travel, but I’m willing to take the risk. 4. Chanel No. 5 Five was the lucky number of French fashion designer, Gabrielle `Coco’ Chanel. She loved it so much that she even launched her iconic perfume, Chanel No. 5, on May 5, 1921. It’s also one of my favorites because my first serious boyfriend gave me a tiny bottle of it on my 15th birthday. To this day, the scent reminds me of our first kiss, which lasted about five minutes! 5. Fifth Month Scholarship I’m not the only one who thinks that the number five is fabulous. Those imaginative folks over at ScholarshipExperts.com have even given the number five its very own scholarship. Each May, students are asked to write a letter to the number five for a chance to win $1,500 for college. If you are 13 years or older, I encourage you to check out the Fifth Month Scholarship ASAP. Who knows? I could be giving you a high-five congratulating you on your win! This Cinco de Mayo, raise a glass and toast to the number five. It may not be as perfect as the number 10 or as important as the number one, but it’s still deserves our respect and admiration.