National Hispanic Heritage Month (United States) facts for kids
National Hispanic Heritage Month (in Spanish: Mes nacional de la herencia hispana) is a special time in the United States. It happens every year from September 15 to October 15. During this month, we celebrate the amazing things Hispanic Americans have done. We honor their influence on U.S. history, culture, and all the great achievements they have made.
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History of Hispanic Heritage Month
This special celebration started as "Hispanic Week." It was created by a law sponsored by Representative Edward R. Roybal from Los Angeles. President Lyndon Johnson signed it into law in 1968.
In 1988, the week-long celebration grew into a whole month. This change was thanks to a law sponsored by Representative Esteban Edward Torres. Senator Paul Simon helped make some changes to the law. President Ronald Reagan then signed it, making it official.
September 15 was chosen as the start date for a very important reason. It's the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores. This event happened on September 16, 1810. It marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. This war led to independence in 1821 for the New Spain Colony. This area is now Mexico and the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. These countries later formed the Federal Republic of Central America.
Many other important dates for the Hispanic community also fall within this 30-day period:
- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on September 15.
- Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16.
- Chile celebrates its independence on September 18.
- The celebration of Columbus Day or Día de la Raza also happens during this month.
President Johnson first announced Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. This was done through a special announcement called a Presidential Proclamation 3869. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan continued to make these yearly announcements for Hispanic Heritage Week until 1988.
National Hispanic Heritage Month was first officially announced by President George H. W. Bush. He did this on September 14, 1989, with Presidential Proclamation 6021. Since 1989, every U.S. President has made a special announcement to mark Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Americans in the Military
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a special time for the U.S. Military. It's when they honor Hispanic Americans who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces. These brave individuals have made huge contributions to building and defending the nation.
Many Hispanic Americans have received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. Sixty-one people of Hispanic heritage have earned this medal. Two were from the Navy, 13 from the U.S. Marine Corps, and 46 from the U.S. Army.
Hispanic Soldiers in the Army
The U.S. Army celebrates the long and important contributions of Hispanic soldiers. As of September 2018, about 136,000 Hispanic soldiers were serving. This means they made up 13.8 percent of the Army. The Army uses this month to celebrate its diverse and welcoming environment. They share stories and information about the contributions of Hispanic soldiers, civilians, and their families. The number of Hispanic Americans on active duty has grown a lot. In 1985, only three percent of active-duty soldiers were Hispanic. By 2016, this number had grown to 13.7 percent.
The U.S. Navy also celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. They honor sailors of Hispanic heritage whose military service goes back to the Civil War. As of June 2018, about 59,000 active and reserve sailors of Hispanic heritage served in the U.S. Navy and Marines.
Annual Celebrations and Events
Many events happen across the country to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Northwest Arkansas Hispanic Heritage Festival: This festival started in 2013. It is held every year in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
- El Barrio Latin Jazz Festival: This festival takes place every September in The Bronx, New York City. It is timed to happen during Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Smithsonian Institution Events: The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. hosts many events. One popular event is the Zoo Fiesta. In 2018, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian hosted "Realm of the Jaguar." This event featured dances from Bolivia, Mexico, and Guatemala. It also included mask making and traditional art.
- Hispanic Family Festival: This festival is held every year at Springdale Park in Springdale, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
- Official Latino Short Film Festival: This film festival began in 2015.
- The Hispanic Star: This is a platform created by the We Are All Human Foundation. In 2020, they hosted a virtual kick-off event for Hispanic Heritage Month. Famous artists like Residente and Fonseca joined. Leaders from different groups also discussed Hispanic heritage, pride, and success stories. The organization also created a special guide. This guide helps people and groups join in the celebration. On April 15, 2021, they released a new version of their Hispanic Heritage Month toolkit. They encourage everyone to use and share it for their own celebrations.
See also
In Spanish: Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana para niños
