September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Have you ever wondered why it always starts in the middle of September instead of being just a full Gregorian calendar month? Me, too! So I did what library people do; I researched it and compiled some information to share.
What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
The proclamation establishing Hispanic Heritage Week was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to recognize "The great contribution to our national heritage made by our people of Hispanic descent—not only in the fields of culture, business, and science, but also through their valor in battle." In 1987, Representative Esteban Torres of California submitted a bill to expand the celebration into an entire month, and eventually, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.
But why September 15 to October 15?
As I said, it originally started as a week-long celebration because it was the anniversary of the start of the Mexican War for Independence (technically the war started in the wee morning hours of Sept. 16th) and resulted in independence for the entire New Spain Colony which included Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras. When the commemoration was expanded to the full month, it was also able to incorporate the independence celebrations of two additional countries: Chile and Belize.
So now you know why we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15!
Bonus: The Differences between “Latino” and “Hispanic”
Just a quick note before I end this blog and send you on your way with some reading recommendations about the differences between the terms Latino and Hispanic. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably because they both describe people who have Latin American and Caribbean ancestry. But "Hispanic" is used to describe someone with a connection to Spain and the Spanish language, whereas "Latino" incorporates anyone with ancestry in Latin American or the Caribbean. It creates space for those with roots in that area who descend from African, Indigenous, Asian, and European peoples.
Fiesta @ HCPL!
La Porte Branch Library
Saturday, September 14, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with us! Festivities feature live mariachis and a dance performance by Ballet Folklórico, story time with children's author Adriana Camacho-Church, craft and activity stations, food, and fun for the whole family! LEARN MORE>>>
More Hispanic Heritage Month Events @ Your Library>>
Learn More about Hispanic Heritage
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with cookbooks that showcase recipes from Latin America.
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