Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where we can celebrate the contributions of people with Hispanic and Latino roots. This celebration starts in September, as it is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This month celebrates everyone with Hispanic origins, including Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and more.

In 1968, the National Observation began only as Hispanic Heritage Week. Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the observation took place between September 15th to September 22nd. Two decades later, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observation in 1988 to cover a thirty-day period. In 2025, 21% of the total U.S. population identifies as Hispanic, making it the largest ethnic minority in the country. 

Each country celebrates its independence on a different day. September 15th is the independence day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico's independence day is September 16.  Chile's independence day is September 18. Belize’s independence day is on September 21, and Spain’s national day is on October 12.

With these celebrations, there are six major pillars of the Hispanic world. Mexico, with the largest demographic of Hispanic culture is one. Their contributions to this world include the famous holiday for the dead, Dia De Los Muertos, mariachi singing, Mesoamerican history such as the Aztecs and the Mayans, tex-mex cuisine, and the revitalization of indigenous languages like Nahuatl. Puerto Rico has impacted the world’s culture as well with Taino Spanish, reggaeton, bomba, plena, and santeria, shaping the modern Latino pop and global music scene. Cuba has influenced Hispanic culture as well, such as Caribbean and Spanish fusion, salsa and rumba, cafe cubano, the Cuban wave in Miami, and the preservation of pre-revolutionary traditions. Colombia and Argentina’s influence on the world are intertwined, but are both significant to global culture. They’ve created traditional dances such as cumbia, vellenato, tango, and gauchos, as well as being the country of origin of famous writers Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jorge Luis Borges. The last major pillar of Hispanic culture is Spain, where the Spanish linguistic root originates, the flamenco dance, tapas, and the colonial history that shaped the Americas. 

Each year the President of the United States has issued a proclamation at the start of the observance of this glorifying month. This time is a very unifying moment for all of those who celebrate it. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Image Courtesy of Maryland GovPics on Flickr.