Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 marks the anniversary of the independence of five Latin
American Countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
and Nicaragua—and denotes this day as the start of Hispanic Heritage
Month.
From September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates the independence
of these five countries in addition to the independence of Mexico and
Chile on September 16 and 18, respectively. Hispanic Heritage Month
is a time to celebrate the culture, traditions, and achievements of
those who trace their roots to myriad Spanish-speaking nations.
Hispanic Heritage Month also includes the celebration of Día
de la Raza on October 12, a holiday recognized throughout Latin America
to commemorate the multicultural heritage of the Americas, according
to the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest Hispanic civil
rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.
As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the term Hispanic refers to any
Spanish-speaking person in the United States regardless of race. Currently,
the estimated Hispanic population in the United States is 42.7 million,
making it the largest ethnic or race minority and accounting for 14%
of the nation’s total population.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a national observance initiated in 1968 under
President Lyndon Johnson, originally as National Hispanic Heritage Week.
It was expanded in 1988 to become a month-long period.
