Huge celebrations across the United States are planned to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual tradition that showcases the amazing diversity and culture of the Hispanic people.
Celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15, the month is a chance for many in the United States to learn about and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics, the fastest growing racial or ethnic minority in the country, according to the census . The group includes people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
There are more than 65 million people who identify as ethnically Hispanic in the United States, according to the latest census estimates.
Heritage Week embraces the sprawling history of Latinos
Before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, which was created through legislation sponsored by Mexican American U.S. Representative Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and signed in law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The weeklong commemoration was expanded to a month two decades later, with legislation signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
“It was clustered around big celebrations for the community,” said Alberto Lammers, director of communications at UCLA’s Latino Politics and Policy Institute. “It became a chance for people to get to know Hispanic cultures, for Latinos to get to know a community better and for the American public to understand a little better the long history of Latinos in the United States”
The month is a way for Hispanics to show their diversity and culture with government support, said Rachel Gonzalez-Martin, associate professor of Mexican-American and Latino Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
September 15 was chosen as the starting point to coincide with the anniversary of “El Grito de Dolores”, or “Cry of Dolores”, which was issued in 1810 by a city in central Mexico which started that country’s war for independence from Spain. .
The Central American nations of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate their independence on September 15, and Mexico marks its national day on September 16, the day after the cry for independence
Also during National Hispanic Heritage Month, the South American nation of Chile observes its independence day on September 18. Indigenous People’s Day, formerly known as Columbus Day, is observed in the United States on the second Monday of October.
Over the past decade, the month has grown because of the larger Latino consumer base in the United States, Ms. Gonzalez-Martin said. Ms. Gonzalez-Martin said the visible support from the federal government, including celebrations at the White House, also made it easier for Hispanics to celebrate.
“Hispanic Heritage Month was a way to be Hispanic and Latino but with an official blessing,” said Ms. Gonzalez-Martin. “It was a recognition of belonging and that became really powerful.”
The four-week period is to honor the way Hispanic populations have shaped the United States in the past and present, Mr. Lammers said.
“It gives us the opportunity to recognize how Latinos have been part of this nation for so many centuries,” said Mr. Lammers. “I think that’s what’s great about it. It’s allowed us to really dig deeper and a chance to tell our stories.
Not everyone who is Hispanic uses this label
Hispanic was a term coined by the federal government for descendants of Spanish-speaking cultures. But for some, the label has a connotation of political conservatism and emphasizes a connection with Spain. It is sometimes confused with “Latino” or “Latinx”.
For some, Latin reflects their ties to Latin America. So some celebrations are called Latinx or Latin Heritage Month.
Latin Americans are not a monolith. There are many identifiers for Latin Americans, depending largely on personal preference. Mexican Americans who grew up during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s may identify as Chicano. Others may go by their family’s country of origin, such as Colombian American or Salvadoran American.
Each culture has unique differences in music, food, art and other cultural aspects.
Celebrations are planned throughout the month
From California to Florida, you won’t miss the festivities. The celebrations offer traditional Latin food and entertainment, including, mariachi bands, folklórico and salsa lessons. The intention is to show the culture of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other Latin countries.
Events highlighting Hispanic culture include a quinceañera fashion show in Dallas on Sept. 14, the New York Latino Film Festival, which runs Sept. 17-22, and Viva Tampa’s Hispanic Heritage Festival Bay on September 28-29.
The Smithsonian in Washington, DC, offers a list of activities that elevate Hispanic heritage, including a celebration of the life of Celia Cruz and exhibits of art made in Mexico.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Terry Tang contributed to this report.