National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 every year in the United States. It honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration originally began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, but it was expanded to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

The selection of dates: September 15 to October 15 is symbolic as September 15 marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively. This period also includes Columbus Day which commemorates the mixed cultural heritage resulting from European exploration of the Americas.

The celebratory month serves as an opportunity to highlight the significant contributions that Hispanic and Latino communities have made in fields of the arts, sciences, politics, and education, and to recognize their impact on the history and culture of the United States.

Maria Cox

Source: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/