It’s Hispanic Heritage Month – Here’s How To Get Involved

Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing, honouring everything Hispanic and Latinx across the US. Here’s a brief history – plus how to get involved.

What Is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latinx culture and history. It is celebrated annually from 15 September to 15 October, predominantly in the USA, recognising the unique contributions Hispanic Americans have made to the country’s history, cuisine, culture and achievements. It has been officially celebrated since 1968 when President Lyndon Johnson signed National Hispanic Heritage Week into law, with President Ronald Reagan expanding it to a month in 1988. Today, almost 19 percent of the US population is Latinx – more than 60 million people – making it the largest racial or ethnic group.

The start date of 15 September was chosen as it is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores, which triggered the start of the Mexican War of Independence, which ultimately resulted in independence for the New Spain Colony, later the Federal Republic of Central America, including today’s nations of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. As a result, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their anniversary of independence on September 15, while Mexico commemorates its independence on 16 September. Other celebrations in Hispanic Heritage Month include Chile’s celebration of independence on 18 September, Belize’s independence day on 21 September, and Columbus Day (aka Día de la Raza), which commemorates Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on 14 October.

What Is The Theme?

The 2024 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is ‘Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together’, highlighting Hispanic and Latinx trailblazers throughout American history. This spans everything from recent achievements like Pedro Pascal being the first Latino to be nominated for an Emmy in the lead actor category in 25 years for his role in The Last of Us, to Cesar Chavez fighting for Latino civil rights, to Rita Moreno winning an Oscar for West Side Story (1961) and Roberto Clemente paving the way for Hispanic Americans in Major League Baseball.

Hispanic vs Latino

Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings: Hispanic refers to people who are from, or descended from, a Spanish speaking country; Latino (or Latinx, the gender neutral form) refers to people from, or descended from, a Latin American country (this includes Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean). This means, for example, Brazilians are Latinx but not Hispanic. Meanwhile, Spanish people are Hispanic but not Latinx, and would be counted as such on the US census. Equatorial Guinea, likewise, is Hispanic but not Latinx – but these are the world’s only Spanish speaking countries not in the Americas.

How To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Read Books By Hispanic & Latinx Authors

Hispanic and Latinx authors have penned some of the world’s best-known novels. Our favourites include:

• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Solito by Javier Zamora
• A Nation of Women by Lusia Capetillo
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
• The Time of the Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa
• The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto “Che” Guevara

Admire Art

There is a plethora of beautiful Hispanic art in the world – and Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to admire it. Artists to seek out include:

• Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Frida Kahlo
• Diego Rivera
• Fernando Botero

Hispanic & Latinx Music

Hispanic and Latinx music is one of the world’s largest subsections, with incredible musicians spilling out of every Latin American country and spawning genres like salsa, reggaeton, cumbia, bachata and merengue. Examples include:

• Selena Gomez
• Shakira
• Gloria Estefan
• Bad Bunny
• Jennifer Lopez
• Marc Anthony
• Celia Cruz
• Juanes

Watch Hispanic Stories

From family films to crime thrillers, the TV and film spheres are filled with incredible Hispanic stories worth the watch this month. Here’s where to start

• Coco
• Encanto
• In The Heights
• West Side Story
• Narcos
• Griselda
• Jane the Virgin
• On My Block

Eat Hispanic Food

Tacos, arepas, empanadas, ceviche, tamales, paella, flan: Hispanic food is some of the most delicious in the world. Whether you fancy cooking it or just tucking in, Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to eat Hispanic food. If you’re in London, here’s our top pick of Mexican restaurants in London as a starting point, but keep your eyes peeled for Puerto Rican, Cuban and Argentinian restaurants and more.