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According to Wikipedia, "Cinco de Mayo... is primarily a regional and not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16, which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin over invading French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Click here for an award-winning website which gives a fuller, but somewhat partisan history of the battle and the struggle of Mexico for self-governance.

Try these stories with Mexican or Mexican American protagonists:

Like water for chocolate : a novel in monthly installments, with recipes, romances, and home remedies by Laura Esquivel Find this book in our catalog

Names on a map : a novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Find this book in our catalog

Fantasmas : supernatural stories by Mexican American writers Find this book in our catalog

The Pearl by John Steinbeck Find this book in our catalog

Labels: Cinco de Mayo, Fantasmas, Like Water for Chocolate, Mexican-Americans-Fiction, Mexico, Names on a Map, PEARL Awards