The Latino Holiday Book: From Cinco de Mayo to Dia de los Muertos -- the Celebrations and Traditions of Hispanic-Americans

by Valerie Menard, Cheech Marin (Foreword)

This special book walks readers through a year of Hispanic holidays and celebrations, from the festive Cinco de Mayo to the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and all points in between. Original.

Genres: Latin American

174 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2000

Reviews

[Sarah Reichard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this informative and very easy to read.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be an excellent teacher resource or a good resource for teens studying various Latino cultural customs. The book discusses the history and practices of several holidays that are celebrated in various places throughout Latin America. There are directions for crafts and recipes mixed into the chapters. I especially liked the chapter on Dia de la Raza or "the flip side of Columbus Day." The holidays include:

1)Spring festivals
2) Calle Ocho--Street Festival with Salsa Beat
3) Easter
4) Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los libros--Day of children and reading
5) Cinco de Mayo
6) Dia de las Madres--Mother's Day
7) Summer Festivals
8) Cuban Independence Day
9) Feast of San Juan Batista--Patron Saint of Puerto Rico
10) National Puerto Rican Day
11) Our Lady of Chiquinquira--Patron Virgin of Colombia
12) Colombian Independence Day
13) Quinceaneras, birthdays, and weddings
14) Fall Festivals
15) Feast Day of Neustra Senora de la Divina Providencia--the veneration of the Caribbean virgin
16) Feast Day of Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre--the copper virgin
17) Dia de la Raza--the flip side of Colombus Day
18) Dia de los Muertos
19) Winter Festivals
20) Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe--revered mother for a Native People
21) Feliz Navidad
22) Dia de los Reyes--Reclaiming the epiphany
23) Nuestra Senora de Altagracia--Patron virgin of the Dominican Republic
24) Dominican Independence Day

[Kimberly]

Awesome book. I learned many things I was unaware of.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yummy stuff inside.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I got this book but I did. I hoped for more recipes but it's really not one of those kinds of books. It's about why we celebrate as we do and how Latino holidays aren't quite the same as American holidays. To tell you the truth, I didn't know why.

I knew, for example, that if I visited Elena's mom on January 6th and in April, I'd get gifts. I figured out when I was six, or seven, or eight, that Elena's mom celebrated more holidays than my mom did and had more small gifts and candies to hand out during certain times of year. Reading this book, I figured out why.

I think, too, I'd like to celebrate a few more of these holidays. I need more reasons to celebrate life. Latinos know how to celebrate life.