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topicnews · September 15, 2024

What you should know about the celebration

What you should know about the celebration

Hispanic Heritage Month, or Mes de la Herencia Hispana in Spanish, celebrates the history, culture, food, music and achievements of the Hispanic community.

Before Hispanic Heritage Month became a month of celebration, the day was observed for only one week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Two decades later, on August 17, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a law extending the day to a 30-day period from September 15 to October 15 annually, according to the census.

“It’s not a month,” Jorge Zamanillo, founding director of the National Museum of American Latino, told USA TODAY. “We’re using this month to highlight the work we do every day.”

Although Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated for nearly 40 years, it has gained popularity over the past decade through events, social media, and media representation.

“Over the last five or seven years, it’s become more visible in the community and also to people outside the community,” Andrés Acosta, a social media content creator, told USA TODAY.

Acosta, who uses the pronouns “they”/“them,” uses his platform to educate his social media followers about Latino and Hispanic culture, with a dash of Spanglish along the way.

Acosta also uses Spanglish as a safe space for the “no sabo” children who want to learn Spanish. The term “no sabo” has become popular to refer to someone who does not speak Spanish well and is considered Hispanic or Latino.

“I think many Latinos feel insecure about their Spanish skills,” they said. “I want to remind them that their Latinidad is not defined by how well they speak Spanish.”

In an Instagram post, Acosta explained Hispanic Heritage Month in detail.

“We are now the largest minority group in the United States and we are growing,” they said. “A lot of people have misconceptions about us and a lot of people only know Mexican or Puerto Rican culture, and I think Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month celebrates all of us.”

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Which countries celebrate their Independence Day during Hispanic Heritage Month?

The timing of the month is significant for Hispanics because many independence days are celebrated within the community during this month. According to the National Museum of American Latino, these include:

  • 15 September – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
  • 16 September – Mexico
  • 18 September – Chile
  • 21 September – Belize

Which countries are Spanish-speaking?

According to Britannica, this is a list of Spanish-speaking countries:

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Puerto Rico
  • Spain
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

What should I call Spanish speakers?

Hispanic or Latino are the most commonly used terms to describe Spanish speakers, or “hispanohablantes.” However, these terms may be used differently by many people within the community.

“Hispanic” is considered a universal term to describe “a person with ancestry from a country whose primary language is Spanish,” explains Duke University.

The terms “Latino” or “Latina” can refer to a person whose ancestors come from Latin America and the Caribbean, the university explained.

Latinx is the gender-neutral term for Latino and Latina.

The National Museum of American Latino at the Smithsonian showcases the history of Hispanic and Latin American peoples

In December 2020, the National Museum of American Latino was established by Congress to exhibit the artifacts and history of Hispanics in Washington, DC, Zamanillo explained.

Hispanic Heritage Month is very important to Zamanillo because he has focused his career on incorporating Hispanic and Latino history into U.S. history. After a trip to Washington, D.C. 30 years ago, he came up with a plan to raise awareness of months like this one.

“I liked what the museums were doing, but I wasn’t seeing stories about Latinos and immigrants like my parents, who are from Cuba,” Zamanillo said. “I had the opportunity to come back and try to make a difference and really give Latinos a space to show that presence alongside other museums in Washington, D.C.”

What should people do to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

Gathering together for events is a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Zamanillo said he’s looking forward to some of the events the National Museum of American Latino will host.

“I’m really looking forward to September 20th,” he said. “We have an event called ‘Historic Change’; an evening where we celebrate the life and legacy of Celia Cruz.”

The event will be held at the American History Museum and will feature food, drinks and salsa dancing to honor Celia Cruz’s impact on the music industry.

There is another festival towards the end of the month that Zamillio is looking forward to.

“The actual celebration of Hispanic heritage, also at the American History Museum, will take place on October 12th under the theme ‘Latinos in Sports,'” he said. “We will celebrate all day long and highlight various themes, such as how Latinos have shaped the history and culture of sports on a global level.”

In addition, Acosta explains that this month is a learning opportunity for everyone, including people who want to learn more about Hispanic countries and their cultures.

“If you want to learn more, you can find content creators online that you can listen to,” they said. “You can look up articles that may be more specific to the interests you want to get a better idea of ​​within the Latinx community.”

Acosta said it’s also important for people to support Hispanic small business owners all year long, not just this month.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY’s National Trending Team. Ahjané covers breaking news, auto recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy. Email her at [email protected]Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

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