7 Fun Facts About Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15 each year, people in the United States and across the globe celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The holiday was created in an effort to teach more people about Hispanic culture, what it means, and why it’s so important to so many people.
The month begins on September 15 because of the date’s historical significance. That was the day that specific countries, namely Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, gained independence. Mexico and Chile, on the other hand, observe their Independence Day a little later, on September 16 and 18 respectively. Latin America’s Columbus Day, more appropriately named Día de la Raza, falls on October 12.
Since all these important dates occur within a 30-day period, Hispanic Heritage Month covers their importance and more as it’s celebrated across the country.
What is unique about Hispanic culture?
Hispanic culture has its own set of values, principles, and interests. Among them are music, food, religion, and close-knit families. The intricate details of Hispanic culture give it an engaging and fascinating history because each tradition is passed down through families across multiple generations.
Some traditions may even be considered ancestral because of how far back they go. Like many others, Hispanic culture aims to create a set of traditions and beliefs that people will continue to observe for many years to come. Roughly one in five people in the United States are Hispanic, making the holiday an essential part of the country’s overall history.
What are some interesting facts about Hispanic culture?
As we dive into some Hispanic Heritage Month facts, let’s first take a look at some interesting facts about Hispanic culture in general:
- The terms Hispanic and Latinx may be used interchangeably, but the two are not one and the same. Hispanic refers to those descended from Spanish-speaking cultures or those who speak Spanish themselves, whereas Latinx people hail from Latin America.
- Many American traditions, such as cowboy hats, rodeos, and ranching, were adopted from Hispanic culture. Even the names of certain states, specifically Montana, Colorado, and Nevada, were created using Spanish words.
- Hispanic Americans were on the front lines of every war the country has seen.
Understanding the culture is the first step toward appreciating it in all its wonderful glory.
What is special about Hispanic Heritage Month?
Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t just about spending time with family or eating delicious culinary masterpieces (though that’s a big part of it!). There’s so much more to it. Hispanic cultures throughout history have made great strides in various areas of global success, and to ensure they get the recognition they deserve, Hispanic Heritage Month was established. The celebratory 30-day period is designed to champion Hispanic Americans and native-born Hispanics who have made America what it is today.
What are some fun facts about Hispanic Heritage Month?
The month-long Hispanic Heritage event is chock-full of fun facts, each filling in a piece of the story about why it exists and what makes it so important. Let’s take a look at a few fun facts now!
Hispanic Heritage Month started as just a week
Hispanic Heritage Month wasn’t always 30 days long. In 1968, when it was officially created, it was dubbed Hispanic Heritage Week. It had the same main goal: to honor contributions made by Hispanics throughout history. It wasn’t until 1988 that Esteban Torres, a California congressman, proposed a new bill to extend the week-long celebration to a full month.
Each year has a new theme
Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month dons a new and exciting theme that’s synonymous with a part of Hispanic culture. The theme is voted in by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM). In 2023, the theme is “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We are All, We are One.”
All Hispanic people are celebrated
While the national holiday is celebrated in the United States, it isn’t designed to celebrate only Hispanic Americans. The ancestry of people born in the States and those living abroad in Hispanic countries are also important.
There are over 20 Hispanic countries
One of the most fun facts about Hispanic countries is that there are so many of them! Hispanic culture can be found in many different places across the globe — it isn’t confined simply to South America. Countries include Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Perú, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Anyone who is either from these countries or hails from ancestors from these countries is considered Hispanic.
Hispanics make up a large number of the American population
People who are Hispanic make up roughly 19% of the entire population in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 62.5 million Americans are Hispanic.
Latinx populations have their own festivities, but share the same language
While Latinx cultures have their own traditions, values, and celebrations, they also predominantly speak Spanish. Because of the shared first language, Latinx and Hispanic cultures are often closer in the community.
Many famous Hispanic Americans are celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month
Learning about the Hispanic contribution to the United States and abroad is what Hispanic Heritage Month is all about. That also means learning about the people who have made a significant impact on the world around them.
Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest names in Hispanic culture and the impact they’ve left on the world. Some of the most famous Hispanic Americans include:
- Major League Baseball player Roberto Clemente, born in Puerto Rico
- First Hispanic woman astronaut Ellen Ochoa, born in California
- American and Hispanic music icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez, born in Texas
- First Hispanic woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, born in New York
Hispanic Heritage Month is designed to show appreciation for Hispanic culture and everything it has done for America and the world. How will you celebrate?
