The National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration begins on September 15 and runs through October 15. This month is dedicated to recognizing the lasting contributions Hispanic Americans have made to this country. From celebrating festivals to preserving family recipes, Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time for people of all ages to learn more about their rich and diverse culture.
Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the unique cultural traditions of Hispanic American communities, including food and dance. Many Hispanic Americans have an especially strong connection to cooking, which is a central part of their heritage. This can be seen in the many traditional dishes, such as tacos, tamales and paella, that are part of the American culinary landscape.
In addition to celebrating food, the Hispanic community is known for its vibrant festivals. From Dia de los Muertos to La Tomatina, many Hispanic festivals celebrate life and community. These celebrations often include large gatherings of family and friends where delicious food is served. From New Mexican stacked red chile beef enchiladas to Colombian ajillo paste, there is no shortage of great Hispanic foods.
The National Museum of the American Latino, a future source of learning, will shine a spotlight on the many ways in which Hispanics and Latinos have contributed to U.S. history and society. The museum will be located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and Congress passed bipartisan legislation in 2020 to establish it.
An important part of the museum’s mission will be to engage with Hispanic and Latino communities around the nation to inspire a sense of pride in the museum’s collections and share stories of U.S. history with the public. It will also be a place to address challenges and issues that impact the Hispanic and Latino community in the United States, such as immigration and civic engagement.
NEH is proud to support the work of museums and libraries across the country that use the power of stories to foster understanding and create connections among communities. In this spirit, a number of our grantees will open their doors to the community for Hispanic Heritage events and activities.
Hispanic Heritage Month was originally introduced in 1968 as a commemorative week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded to a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. A proclamation for the observance has been signed by every sitting President since then.
The terms Hispanic, Latino and Latinx are used interchangeably, but each has a different meaning and history associated with it. The word Hispanic refers to a person’s self-described family ancestry as indicated in response to a question on the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Latino/a and Latinx are gender-neutral alternatives to Hispanic that some people prefer. The choice of which term to use may depend on whether language is most important, or if the person is describing where they were born and raised. The differences are more complicated when the person is describing their cultural identity, such as what countries they come from and how those cultures interact with one another.