Hispanic Heritage Month

A national endeavor which celebrates and recognizes the rich cultural influence of Hispanics throughout the United States. National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th through October 15th. It calls upon the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe the month with ceremonies and activities appropriate for the recognition of Hispanic influence.

The month was initiated by U.S. Congress more than twenty years ago as National Heritage Week and was expanded to a month in 1989. During this month, America celebrates Hispanic cultures, achievements, and heritage by commemorating a number of historical events.

September 15 - Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua

September 16 - Independence Day for Mexico

October 12 - El Dia de la Raza

One suggestion to help teachers celebrate the month is to:

Create a big black kettle (representing the "melting pot" that is America) out of construction paper and staple it to a bulletin board. Use white chalk to write on the pot the cultures represented in your students' families on the pot. Ask students to keep an eye out for articles in newspapers and magazines that include references to different cultural groups that are part of the American "melting pot." Hang the articles on the bulletin board.

Trivia for Hispanic Heritage Month 

  •  Why should you think of Hispanic heritage when you see the yellow veil of mustard blossoms on the roadside? Spanish soldiers and friars scattered the seeds... to mark a trail.

  • What event do Mexicans and Mexican-Americans celebrate on Sept. 16? Mexican Independence Day.

  • What are sikus, quenas, wankaras and charangos? Andean musical instruments

  • What three U.S. states are home to most Hispanic-owned businesses? California, Texas and Florida

  • After whom is the city of Galveston, Texas named? Marshall Bernardo de Galvez

  • What historic event is remembered in Puerto Rico on Sept. 23? El Grito de Lares

  • What historic event is celebrated on May 5th (or Cinco de mayo)? The day Mexican forces defeated the invading soldiers of Napoleon in the town of Puebla.

  • According to the census of 1990, which U.S. city is home to 49 percent of the Guatemalans living in the U.S.? Los Angeles, CA

  • What is one of the accepted roots of the word Mariachi? It is a variation of the French word mariage, meaning wedding or marriage; or it comes from the name of the wood used to make the platform on which the performers danced to the music of the village musicians.

  • What tragic event of March 31, 1995 left hundreds of thousands of Latinos in mourning? The untimely death of singer Selena