HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2021

While you never need an excuse to take pride in your ethnic background, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to really celebrate the history and culture of Latino and Hispanic communities in the United States. The event, which takes place between September 15 and October 15 every year, commemorates how Hispanic Americans have influenced American culture and society.

The Hispanic population of the United States is over 60 million, making Hispanic people the largest ethnic minority in the nation. The term Hispanic or Latino refers to the origin or culture of a person, regardless of their race. As per the 2020 Census form, individuals are considered to be Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish if they have Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, or other similar origins.

For many across the United States, the Hispanic Heritage Month is an exciting time to celebrate Hispanic culture for a few weeks through food, music, and festivals.

What is the meaning behind the Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month has been a huge celebration in the United States for more than 50 years. The ritual started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson's administration as a week-long celebration called Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1989, during Ronal Reagan's presidency it was expanded by congress into a month long celebration.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to honour and pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic-Americans who have positively impacted and enriched the American way of life. The start date of September 15 is significant because it marks the independence of five Latin American countries; El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. It’s also a nod to Mexico and Chile, who celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

How do people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in a myriad of ways, and is jam-packed with fun, educational, and artistic events. Typically, the official government website keeps a calendar of the main activities hosted throughout the nation, from concerts to book and art festivals and parades.

Most of the festivities are family-friendly with each state hosting their own events and activities. For instance, The El Barrio Latin Jazz festival is held annually in The Bronx, New York (in September) to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month.

The occasion particularly celebrates Hispanic arts and culture and is thus honoured by the following government institutions; National Gallery of Art, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, Smithsonian Institution, and the National Park Service.

It’s worth noting that due to the Coronavirus pandemic, most of the 2020 events are likely to be virtual. If you’re staying close to home, be sure to check out virtual celebration events and ideas. Just because we can’t gather in large groups, it doesn’t mean we can’t still build community.

Learn about Hispanic Culture Through Food, Music, and Art

Ethnic foods, music, and art are fun ways to learn about and celebrate Hispanic cultures while experiencing it firsthand. Food is a central part of any culture, and recipes are a great way to get the conversation started about the Hispanic culture and to learn more about each country. Moreover, traditional Hispanic cuisine can be a great source of pride as recipes are passed down from generation to generation.

As for music, if you know anything about the Hispanic culture, you will know that the music is diverse and vibrant. During Hispanic Heritage Month, you can watch Hispanic dancers and musicians perform, which is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.

Visual art is another great way to experience a culture. Hispanic landscapes, portraits, political, or social issues and cultural touchstones can all be found in the work of Hispanic artists. There are many museums and galleries across the United States that feature the work of Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Make sure to take some time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage in 2021. Whether it’s through food, music, art, or something else, it’s important to commemorate this time in a way that honours and pays tribute to the Hispanic culture.