The fact that the 1999 Meeting of the Popular and American Culture Association at the Congress of the Americas (29 September - 2 October, 1999) is taking place in Puebla, Mexico, lends itself to research on the cultural and historical significance of 5 de Mayo both in the United States and Mexico. Of course, the original celebration was as a result of the Mexican victory over the French expeditionary forces of Napoleon III on 5 May 1862.

The Conference is issuing a call for papers investigating various aspects of 5 de mayo including but not limited to: (1) the original 1862 battle; (2) how the 5 de mayo celebration has evolved both in Mexico and in the United States; (3) the panethnic quality of contemporary United States celebrations of 5 de mayo (now celebrate by other Latin Americans and by Anglos as well as persons of Mexican descent); (4) the emergence of a 5 de mayo children's literature; (5) the celebration of 5 de mayo as contrasted with 16 de septiembre in both the United States and Mexico; and (6) the economic impact of the 5 de mayo celebration and its relationship to corporate America.

The Hispanic Research Center (HRC) of Arizona State University is committed to producing a CD-ROM, The Binational 5 de Mayo Project: History of the 5 de Mayo Holiday and will be making a major presentation of the plans for this CD (to be completed in 2001) at the conference. The HRC encourages submissions and participation in the creation of this CD-ROM including articles, art, information, and other materials.