Hispanic Heritage Month: What you should know about the celebrations

Large celebrations are expected across the United States for National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual tradition that showcases the impressive diversity and culture of the Hispanic population.

Celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15, the month is an opportunity for many in the United States to learn about and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics, the fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority in the country, according to the census. The group includes people whose ancestry originates from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

According to the latest census estimates, there are more than 65 million people in the United States who belong to the Hispanic ethnic group.

Heritage Week is dedicated to the extensive history of Latinos

Before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, created by legislation sponsored by Mexican-American U.S. Representative Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

Two decades later, the week-long memorial day was extended to a month with the signing of a law by President Ronald Reagan.

“It was all about big celebrations for the community,” said Alberto Lammers, communications director at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute. “It was an opportunity for people to learn about Hispanic culture, for Latinos to learn more about a community and for the American public to understand a little better the long history of Latinos in the United States.”

The month is an opportunity for Hispanics to showcase their diversity and culture with government support, said Rachel Gonzalez-Martin, associate professor of Mexican American and Latino studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

September 15 was chosen as the starting point to coincide with the anniversary of “El Grito de Dolores”, or “the Cry of Dolores”. This cry was raised in 1810 in a city in central Mexico, from which the country's war of independence against Spain began.

The Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate their independence on September 15, and Mexico celebrates its national holiday on September 16, the day after the cry of independence.

Also during National Hispanic Heritage Month, the South American country of Chile celebrates its Independence Day on September 18th. Indigenous Peoples Dayformerly known as Columbus Day, is celebrated in the United States on the second Monday in October.

Over the past decade, the month has become more popular due to the larger Latino consumer base in the U.S., Gonzalez-Martin said. Gonzalez-Martin said visible support from the federal government, including celebrations at the White House, has also made it easier for Hispanics to celebrate.

“Hispanic Heritage Month was a way to be Hispanic and Latino, but with official blessings,” Gonzalez-Martin said. “It was a recognition of belonging and that became really powerful.”

The four-week period is about honoring the way the Hispanic population has shaped the United States in the past and present, Lammers said.

“It gives us an opportunity to recognize how Latinos have been part of this nation for so many centuries,” Lammers said. “I think that's what's so great about it. It's allowed us to really dig deeper and tell our stories.”

Not every Hispanic American uses this label

Hispanic is a term coined by the federal government for people who come from Spanish-speaking cultures. However, for some, the label is associated with political conservatism and emphasizes a connection to Spain. It is sometimes mistaken for “Latino” or “Latinx.”

For some, Latino reflects their connection to Latin America, which is why some celebrations are referred to as Latinx or Latin Heritage Month.

Latin Americans are not a monolith. There are several labels for Latin Americans, depending largely on personal preference. Mexican Americans who grew up during the civil rights movement of the 1960s may identify as Chicano. Others may identify themselves by their family's country of origin, such as Colombian Americans or Salvadoran Americans.

Every culture has unique differences when it comes to music, food, art and other cultural milestones.

Celebrations are planned throughout the month

From California to Florida, there will be no shortage of festivities. The celebrations feature traditional Latin American foods and entertainment, including mariachi bands, folklore and salsa lessons. The goal is to showcase the culture of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other Latin American countries.

Events highlighting Hispanic culture include a Quinceañera fashion show on September 14 in Dallas, the New York Latino Film Festival, which runs September 17-22, and the Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 28-29.

The Smithsonian in Washington, DC offers a List of activities Appreciation of Hispanic heritage, including a celebration of the life of Celia Cruz and exhibitions of art made in Mexico.

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Associated Press writer Terry Tang contributed to this report.