National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15, 2016
Today, September 15, marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month (Mes de la Herencia Hispana) in the United States. The month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and celebrates their heritage and culture. September 15 was chosen to begin the month because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico (September 16), Chile (September 18), and Belize (September 21) also celebrate independence days during Hispanic Heritage Month. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover the 30-day period from September 15 to October 15.
This 1984 U.S. postage stamp honors the service of Hispanic Americans in the military. It is one of several U.S. stamps honoring the heritage of Hispanic Americans. Credit: © Shutterstock
Hispanic Americans are Americans of Spanish-speaking descent. Many Hispanic Americans are the descendants of Mexican people who lived in the Southwest when it became part of the United States. Almost all other Hispanic Americans or their ancestors migrated to the United States from Latin America. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. As a group, Hispanic Americans represent a rich variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including European, American Indian, and African.
Spectators cheer during the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City, one of many nationwide events celebrating Hispanic heritage. Credit: © Eric Thayer, Reuters/Landov
As of 2014, some 55 million people, or about 17 percent of the U.S. population, are of Hispanic or Latino origin. California has the largest Hispanic population (about 15 million) of any state, with some 5 million Latinos in Los Angeles alone. Hispanic American influence is seen in all aspects of American life, particularly in the arts, entertainment, food, politics, religion, and sports. Annual Latino festivals are found in most U.S. cities, as are celebrations of traditionally Hispanic holidays.
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., hosts a variety of events during National Hispanic Heritage Month. These events include celebrations of Taíno music, Maya culture, Latinos in agriculture, the Latina Women’s Experience, and portraits of Hispanic American activists Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. Throughout the month, the National Endowment for the Humanities website features numerous online exhibits and collections related to Hispanic Americans and Latino culture and history. For more information, see the official government website.
