
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 theSeptember 15 Start Date?
There’s actually a good reason for Hispanic Heritage Month starting in the middle of the month: it’s anindependence 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 initiatedto 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 NotableHispanic HistoricalFigures
We have many Hispanic and Latino Americans to thank for their contributions. Here at ӣappɫ, we try to include as many of these figures as we can into our curriculum.
Below are Bio Cardsyou’ll find within our Social Studies courses. Click on them for a fun educational experience on just a fewHispanic 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 ӣappɫ’s “Hispanic Heritage”
Starting with the name itself (it means spring inSpanish, after all!), ӣappɫ 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 ӣappɫ’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:
- , Spanish instructor
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, ӣappɫ has some great ways for you to learn more in our very own curriculum.
You can start by watchingthis video on Pancho Villa:
Or check out 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 .
3. Try Some New Things
Learn Spanish (ӣappɫ 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 knowwhere 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 Ի pages as we post more on Hispanic Heritage Month!
