![]() ![]() Instead of celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, Mexicans observe the Día de la Raza (Race Day) on October 12th, which recognizes the mixed Indigenous and European heritage of Mexico.In 1987, Representative Esteban Torres of California tried to expand National Hispanic Heritage Week into a month-long occasion, which would “allow our nation to properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.” Though it was unsuccessful in getting passed in Congress, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois later submitted a similar bill, which was eventually signed by President Ronald Reagan on August 17, 1988. There were actually two different attempts to make Hispanic Heritage Month happen.Census data, the Hispanic or Latine population hit 62.1 million - making this community the largest minority group in the country. Keep reading to find more answers to frequently asked questions at the end of this article. Johnson and was later extended to a full month 20 years later by President Ronald Reagan. The idea to celebrate Hispanic Heritage initially began as a week-long observance in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Another important date that falls within this 30-day period is Día de la Raza, or Indigenous Peoples Day, which is celebrated in Mexico on October 12th. ![]() September 15th was chosen as the kickoff date since it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico on September 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st. It might seem random, however, the timing of Hispanic Heritage Month deliberately overlaps with several Latin American Independence Day celebrations. So, why is Hispanic Heritage Month spread across two months? We’re quite used to having dedicated months to honor specific communities - think: Black History Month in February, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, or Pride Month in June. ![]() ![]() Why does Hispanic Heritage Month start in the middle of September? Again, it’s a personal (very intentional) preference but something to keep in mind when you hear or see these terms moving forward.Īnd while we should never wait for an annual event or holiday to take pride in or celebrate someone’s ethnic background, Latine and Hispanic Americans use this as an opportunity to honor their respective cultures and ancestral backgrounds.įrom concerts and parades to food fairs and “carne asadas,” this is a time meant for recognition, education, and (of course) celebration.īy the way, some of the links in this article (like books!) are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Not only does it make efforts to capture the full spectrum of our communidad, but linguistically, it’s easier for me to say in Spanish! I’ll use Latine throughout this article for the sake of simplicity and clarity. If this sounds confusing or complicated just ask a member of the community which term they feel comfortable using! Personally, I prefer to use the gender-neutral term Latine to describe the community. This is why you may also see this recognized as Latino Heritage Month, Latinx Heritage Month, or Latine Heritage Month. While the official and more common umbrella term, “Hispanic” is something that most of us are familiar with, this (as we’ll touch on later) does not represent the diverse races, cultures, and Indigenous languages that encompass this large community. Hispanic Heritage Month ( September 15 - October 15) is an annual celebration in the United States that honors the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to 20 countries and one territory - which includes Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain. ![]()
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