October, 2023
By Dayana Quezada, Business Team
Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This celebration recognizes all the work Hispanics put into American history.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated by many countries around the world, like Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Mexico.
Hispanic Heritage Month first started off as a weeklong celebration; in 1968, it was only celebrated during September under President Johnson . In 1998, it was turned into a month-long celebration by President Reagan. It is specifically celebrated from September 15 through October 15 because that was the start of the Mexican War of Independence, which helped many Hispanic countries become free of the New Spain colony.
In the United States, they celebrate in the military by paying respect to many of the fallen soldiers who served in the war and to anyone who has defended the nation and served in the army. Celebrating the US army isn’t the only thing that the US does; they host festivals. For example, in New York, they hold an annual festival in the Bronx called El Barrio Latin Jazz Festival, and in Washington, DC, they hold a festival called Fiesta DC festival, where they have a range of entertainment and food from a wide variety of cultures. The US also holds concerts, parades, and much more. Austin, Texas, holds an annual exhibit event where people can go see the different pieces of art.
In Hispanic countries, they celebrate this month in different ways: they throw dances, festivals, parades, concerts, parties, award shows, and much more. For example, many Hispanic countries cook and make special meals that represent their culture and share them with family, friends, neighbors, and their community.
Here at KIPP Austin collegiate we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by putting up different posters, artwork, and foods of different students’ cultures. The National Spanish Honor Society helped build a wall full of different Hispanic students’ cultures and backgrounds. With this special month, many different Hispanic people can feel proud of who they are and express themselves.
The Cardinal Post 