Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring the Hispanic Language and Culture

September 15 2023 to October 15 2023 is National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Each year at this time Americans celebrate the culture, history, language, and contributions of American citizens whose families were from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This celebration dates back to 1968 when President Lyndon Johnson established a Hispanic Heritage Week. The celebration was later expanded to a month by President Ronald Regan. The timing of the celebration is significant; Independence Day is celebrated by Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua in October.

There are varied activities to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month. These include events that focus on Hispanic food, historical events, famous people of Hispanic heritage, and the Spanish language. The central goal of the activities is to raise awareness of the impact Hispanic people and culture have had on the U.S. and the world. While it is often thought this awareness raising is important for people who are not Hispanic, it is just as important for those of Hispanic descent. Many Hispanics may not appreciate the vast contributions Hispanics have made to the U.S. This is because they may not have been educated about these accomplishments at home or at school.

Learning to appreciate the contributions of Hispanics can be transformational for people of Hispanic descent. It can increase their feeling of pride, knowledge, and connection to Hispanic culture. Part of this experience may include discovering or reconnecting with their heritage language, Spanish.

Photo Credit: Sydney Rae on Unsplash.