Hispanic Heritage Month – fiesta time!
Every September, in Design Pickle we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the many contributions that Latino and Hispanic Americans have made to our country’s culture, history, and achievements. Additionally, it’s a time to celebrate and grow together while supporting our Hispanic amigos and colleagues!
Have you ever heard that Latin fiestas can last for hours, days, or even weeks? Well, Hispanic Heritage Month is not the exception. This celebration takes place from September 15 to October 15 every year. During this time, you can attend fiestas, festivals, dances, concerts, parades, and other events where you can also have the chance to taste some mouthwatering tacos, tasty beans, or delicious pupusas, just let me give you some advice, be careful with the salsas, they could be very spicy!
But before we continue our discussion on culinary delights and spicy food, let’s take a look at the historical facts of why this celebration lasts that long.
President Lyndon B. Johnson established Hispanic Heritage Month as Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1968, he signed Hispanic Heritage Week into law in the United States. The celebration was expanded to a month on August 17, 1988, when President Ronald Reagan signed National Hispanic Heritage Month into law.
¡Viva la Independencia!
Hispanic Heritage Month, in particular, begins on September 15. This is due to the fact that five of our Central American neighbors celebrate their independence on September 15. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua declared their independence in 1821. Mexico, Chile, and Belize on the other hand became independent on September 16, 18, and 21 from Spain and the United Kingdom, respectively.
What is the difference between Latino and Hispanic?
The term Hispanic or Latinx refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. “Latinx” means from Latin America, which includes mostly all countries below the U.S. including the Caribbean. “Hispanic” means from a country whose primary language is Spanish but not every country in Latin America speaks Spanish.
How can you enjoy this celebration while also supporting the culture?
- Plan a fiesta.
Plan a fiesta with tasty food. Aside from the Spanish language, Hispanic culture has influenced America with their tasty cuisine. Among the most popular Hispanic dishes in the United States are corn tortillas, tamales, arepas, different salsas, and condiments like guacamole, pico de gallo, and mole. (Just FYI – chicken tacos are not popular, Mexicans prefer to fill their tacos with steak, chicharron, and chorizo!) Also, don’t forget to play some salsa or mariachis music and let’s dance! - Make a fun activity and post a recap on social media!
Play some Loteria, Tripa Chuca, or get a piñata, and have some fun at the office! You can share your team’s key takeaways and new information about the Hispanic culture that you found surprising or fascinating. - Educate your audience.
Create unique designs to share Hispanic Heritage Month quotes, reading recommendations, podcasts, and music in social media. It is an excellent opportunity to recognize outstanding Hispanic artists and cultural contributors to our country. Pair your Hispanic Heritage Month posts with meaningful community action. For brands, business owners, and just about anyone with a presence on social media, it’s also an important time to acknowledge the Hispanic community.
Recognize and honor Hispanic contributions to our country. They have played an important role throughout history, and it is about time to recognize their contributions to the American way of life by observing not just one day, but an entire month dedicated to celebrating Hispanic heritage.
Here are some of history’s most important inventors:
- Color TV by Guillermo González Camarena of Mexico.
- Earthquake Sensing Technology by Arturo Arias Suárez of Chile.
- CAPTCHA creation by Luis von Ahn of Guatemala.
- Stent by Julio Palmaz of Argentina.
- X-Ray Reflection Microscope by Albert Vinicio Báez of Mexico.
- Contraceptive pill by Luis Miramontes of Mexico.
- Artificial Heart by Domingo Santo Liotta of Argentina.
We cannot forget important Latin creatives throughout history, such as:
- Frida Kahlo: Mexican painter well known for her harsh and vividly colored self-portraits exploring subjects such as identity, the human body, and death. Despite her denial, she is frequently recognized as a Surrealist.
- Quino (Joaquin Salvador Lavado): Argentine cartoonist, produced a comic strip about an irreverent girl named Mafalda, whose unusual perspective on daily life and politics made her popular in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Fernando Botero: Colombian artist noted for his exaggerated human and animal figures in his paintings and sculptures.
Consider Hispanic Heritage Month to be a jumping-off point for you to engage on a life-long mission of showing support for indigenous communities in the United States.
Just keep in mind that your efforts to promote and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month should not be limited to a single calendar month. Consider this your starting point for shining a spotlight on Hispanic and Latinx communities every day of the year!
