National Hispanic Heritage month

Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities.

• Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country.
   
• Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino and Hispanic community.

September 15 is a historically significant day that marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.

Today, Hispanic Americans are leaders in government, business, education, sports, science, and the arts. Observing Hispanic Heritage Month allows our country to show its recognition and support for the work Latinos and Hispanics are doing in helping this country grow.