Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities. The event, which spans from September 15th to October 15th, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The annual celebration spans the days it does because it overlaps with several Latin America Independence Day celebrations:
- 9/15 - Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
- 9/16 - Mexico Independence Day
- 9/18 - Chile Independence Day
- 9/21 - Belize Independence Day
- 10/12 - Dia de la Raza, Indigenous Peoples Day (celebrated in Mexico)
Hispanic Heritage Month originally started with one week of commemoration when it was first introduced by Congressman George E. Brown in June 1968. With the civil rights movement, the need to recognize the contributions of the Latin community gained traction in the 1960s. Awareness of the multicultural groups living in the United States was also gradually growing.
Two heavily Latinx and Hispanic populated areas, the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles, were represented by Brown. His aim was to recognize the integral roles of these communities in American history. Observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was later extended to a 30-day celebration by President Ronald Reagan. It was enacted into law via approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17, 1988.
Hispanic Americans have been integral to the prosperity of the U.S. Their contributions to the nation are immeasurable, and they embody the best of American values. The Hispanic-American community has left an indelible mark on the U.S. culture and economy. Read more about National Hispanic Heritage month here.
Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
- 8 Great Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Work
- 20 Facts About National Hispanic Heritage Month You Know in 2022
- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these 18 Must-Read Books by Latinx Authors
- Hispanic Heritage Month Library of Congress Pinterest Board
- National Park Service celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Highlights
- Hispanic and Latino Americans amount to an estimated 17.8% of the total U.S. population, making up the largest ethnic minority.
- Oscar Hijuelos, author of "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love," was the first Hispanic writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
- Unlike the U.S., chicken tacos are not popular in Mexico. There, they prefer to fill their tacos with steak, chicharron, and chorizo.
