Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is the anniversary of the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which outnumbered Mexican troops defeated Napoleon III’s invading French army (despite this defeat the French weren’t actually stopped until 1867). The date is observed today by many in the U.S. and other countries as a celebration of pride in Mexican heritage.
UWW observance:
The Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority will host UWW’s “First Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration” May 5th, 2008, from 7-8 pm in the UC Summers Auditorium. The UWW community is invited to this opportunity to learn the importance of the events that took place on Cinco de Mayo, 1862 in Mexico. A pinata celebration will follow after the program outside the UC.
More information is available from the University Library:
Books include The Latino holiday book: from Cinco de Mayo to Dia de los Muertos– the celebrations and traditions of Hispanic-Americans (3rd-floor Main Collection, GT4803 .M45 2000) or The Oxford encyclopedia of Latinos & Latinas in the United States (2nd-floor Reference Collection E184 S75 O97 2005, v.1, pp.345-346). For the very serious, there are related books such as The French experience in Mexico, 1821-1861: a history of constant misunderstanding (3rd-floor Main Collection, DC59.8 .M6 B37).
Articles may be found in a variety of library databases, including Academic Search Premier. Here’s an example: “America’s growing observance of Cinco de Mayo” published in the Journal of American Culture (vol. 21, no. 2).
