Acelebremos!: Las Fiestas de Ma(c)Xico, Cuba y Puerto Rico, y Ca3mo Se Festejan En Los Estados Unidos

A former editor of Hispanic magazine and a regular contributor to Latino-related publications like Frontera and Latin Heat, Menard has compiled a guide to Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican celebrations and their relevance in the United States. Here, she discusses the typical customs, special foods and activities, and religious and social histories of holidays, including Dia de los Muertos, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day), Cinco de Mayo, National Puerto Rican Day, and many others. In an attempt to clarify common misconceptions about the meaning of certain holidays, Menard goes back to their origins, stressing the indigenous and Spanish legacies behind the festivities and their importance to particular immigrant groups. Menard also studies the growing interest in these holidays not only by Hispanics, but also by non-Hispanic Americans who have become interested in these traditions as Latin American immigration increases and Latin culture influences television and other media. Throughout, Menard avoids a political stance toward political holidays (e.g., Cuban Independence Day). This book will appeal to Hispanic immigrants who observe these traditions and who are interested in learning more about their heritage. It will also be a useful tool for librarians and booksellers to use in planning community programming. Highly recommended for public libraries and bookstores. Bernadette M. Lopez-Fitzsimmons, Manhattan Coll. Libs., Riverdale, NY