We hope you had a wonderful Hispanic Heritage Month. As we have reached October 15, the month dedicated to celebrating and honoring the rich cultures and contributions of the Latinx and Hispanic communities across the United States comes to an end. This annual observance runs from September 15 to October 15 and features a variety of festivities that vary by region. If you did not have the change to attend any festivity, we wanted to at least end the month with a history lesson on the origin of this celebratory month.

This month coincides with several important Independence Days in Latin America, enriching the significance of the celebration.

To start with the lesson, it is important to clarify that “Hispanic” and “Latinx” refer to cultural backgrounds rather than racial identities. According to Census data, individuals are classified as Hispanic or Latinx if they have ancestral ties to countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other nations with Hispanic or Spanish origins. This definition encompasses a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences, all of which are acknowledged and celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The roots of Hispanic Heritage Month date back to 1968.

The initiative began with Congressman George E. Brown from California, who served as a House Representative from 1963 to 1971. He recognized the significant contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx populations in his district and advocated for a commemorative week to honor them. On September 17, 1968, Congress passed legislation establishing this week-long celebration starting on September 15, strategically chosen to align with several Latin American Independence Days.

The inaugural week of celebration coincided with eight Independence Days, primarily observed by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which all gained independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated the following day, September 16, marking its liberation from Spanish rule in 1810. This week also includes significant dates like Chile’s Independence Day on September 18 and Belize’s on September 21.

For nearly two decades, the celebration remained a week-long event until 1987, when Representative Esteban E. Torres from California proposed extending it to a full month.

Senator Paul Simon from Illinois supported this initiative, leading to its approval by Congress and the signing of the extension into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Subsequently, President George H.W. Bush became the first to officially designate the period from September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month, solidifying it as a time for national reflection on the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.

We hope you all had a joyful Hispanic Heritage Month and continue to celebrate all year long!