Since 1988, America has celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month every September 15 to October 15. Do you know why or how it came to be? Keep on reading to find out!
Why the September 15 Start Date?
There’s actually a good reason for Hispanic Heritage Month starting in the middle of the month: it’s an independence day for many different Hispanic countries!
Countries Celebrating Independence During Hispanic Heritage Month
| Countries Celebrating Independence Day During Hispanic Heritage Month |
|---|
| Costa Rica (Sept. 15) |
| El Salvador (Sept. 15) |
| Honduras (Sept. 15) |
| Nicaragua (Sept. 15) |
| Mexico (Sept. 16) |
| Chile (Sept. 18) |
| Cuba (Oct. 10) |
Hispanic vs. Latino(a): What’s the Difference?
| Latino(a) only countries | Both | Hispanic only countries |
|---|---|---|
| All countries listed, plus Brazil, | Argentina | All countries listed, plus Spain, |
| Does not include Spain | Bolivia | Does not include Brazil |
| Chile | ||
| Columbia | ||
| Costa Rica | ||
| Cuba | ||
| Dominican Republic | ||
| Ecuador | ||
| El Salvador | ||
| Guatemala | ||
| Haiti | ||
| Honduras | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Nicaragua | ||
| Panama | ||
| Paraguay | ||
| Peru | ||
| Puerto Rico | ||
| Uruguay | ||
| Venezuela |
Other Fun Hispanic Heritage Month History Facts
- It began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill extending it to a full 30-day period.
- Hispanic Heritage Month was initiated to recognize the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States.
- It also includes celebrating the long history of Hispanic and Latino influence, starting all the way back to the discovery of America in 1492.
Some Notable Hispanic Historical Figures
We have many Hispanic and Latino Americans to thank for their contributions. Here at Primavera, we try to include as many of these figures as we can into our curriculum.
Below are Bio Cards you’ll find within our Social Studies courses. Click on them for a fun educational experience on just a few Hispanic Historic Figures.
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Romualdo Pacheco
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Simon Bolivar
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Lorenzo de Zavala
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Cesar Chavez
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A Little About Primavera’s “Hispanic Heritage”
Starting with the name itself (it means spring in Spanish, after all!), Primavera is proud of its personal hispanic heritage! Here are just a few facts:
- 40% percent of our students are of Hispanic descent.
- It is also Primavera’s fastest growing demographic, jumping up 9% just last year alone!
How do you plan to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month? Share with us in the comments below!We have many talented students and faculty members with Hispanic heritage. You can read a few of their stories in these blog posts:
- Ms. Graciela Herrera, Spanish instructor
- Elizabeth Bell
- Jose Pantaleon
- Diana Hernandez
Three Ways You Can Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
There are several ways to get in the spirit of Hispanic Heritage! Here are a couple of our recommendations:
1. Read up on some history!
In fact, Primavera has some great ways for you to learn more in our very own curriculum.
You can start by watching this video on Pancho Villa:
Or check out this Primavera lesson to learn more about the LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).
2. Attend an Event Near You
From Diamondbacks special games to Tempe Fiestas, there are a lot of community events happening throughout Arizona to attend! You can check them out in this blog post.
3. Try Some New Things
Learn Spanish (Primavera has several Spanish courses, by the way), maybe head to an authentic restaurant, try a new recipe or discover some music. Hispanic heritage includes so many different countries; you never know where you’ll find that next new thing you love!
We hope you take some time this month to learn and try new things. Don’t forget to stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages as we post more on Hispanic Heritage Month!
