Spanish

"Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, commemorates an 1862 battle in Puebla, Mexico, in which a small troop of Mexican soldiers defeated a much larger French force. France ultimately displaced the Mexicans, but its rule over Mexico was short-lived." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) This article explains the significance of Cinco de Mayo in Mexico.

"The images [of figurines with skulls for heads] fill the shelves of La Mariposa gift shop in Dallas [Texas] with the eerie mix of death and ceremony that marks the Day of the Dead. Many Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans celebrate the holiday Nov. 1 and 2 with altars honoring deceased loved ones. The tradition is crossing cultural lines, fueled largely by a growing Hispanic population that is leaving its imprint on American society." (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The growing popularity of Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States is reported. A brief history of the Mexican holiday and its traditions is provided.

This article presents the author's experience of coming to south of Spain. The author said that it was a holy week in Spain. The author said that she had never thought of the week preceeding Easter as Holy Week since in her family they only celebrated Easter Sunday and Easter Monday by usually going to church in the morning and having a good meal with her family. She saw a group of men walking barefoot. She said that her friends her told her that the climax of the ceremony lies in el trono, which she pictured as a huge chair.

Pinatas are broken during Mexican posadas, a family get-together to commemorate Mary and Joseph's search for shelter on Christmas Eve before the birth of Jesus Christ.

"Antigua's Semana Santa is the most elaborate Easter celebration outside Seville, Spain, and the most important event on Guatemala's religious calendar. For seven days the community puts work aside and transforms the town into a stage upon which to retell the ancient story of the passion, crucifixion, and ascension of Christ. Central to the celebration are three events: the procession of sacred images, construction of carpets over which they will pass, and 'velaciones,' or vigils, which precede the egress of the icons from their churches." (WORLD & I) An overview of Antigua's Semana Santa Easter celebration is provided.

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