Hispanic Heritage Day

The Fifth of May or Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with great gusto by the Spanish-speaking population of the Southwestern United States and especially in Los Angeles . The event commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 when the Mexican army won a surprising victory over great odds against French forces then in the country. 

For the past twelve years the Glendora congregation has been keeping a version of this fiesta called "Hispanic Heritage Day" wherein Mexican-American members get to show their superb skills in special food, decorations, lively costumes, special messages with a Mexican theme and of course the annual smashing of the pinata by the children. This year 16 wildly excited children, aged 3 to 13, lined up to take a crack at the swinging pinata (pictured, click to enlarge). 

"We see this as a vital part of the church's mandate to be all things to all people," says Pastor Neil Earle, "and we have a lot of fun doing it as well."
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Mexcian-bornb Trinidad Alarcon poses in her native costume at Gendora's 12 Hispanic Heritage salute. Glendora kids line up for a swat at the pinata. Brice Foyabo being briefed by his mom before he swats at the pinata. Ezekiel was one of sixteen children to attack the pinata as Pastor Neil Earle looks on.
On May 2nd, Glendora congregation celebrated Hispanic heritage as it has for the past twelve years
(Photos by Judith Foyabo, click to enlarge)