3 interesting facts about hispanic heritage month

10 fun facts about hispanic heritage month
What countries celebrate hispanic heritage month
Why is hispanic heritage month important

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Dia de la Raza, an alternative celebration to Columbus Day for those of Hispanic heritage, falls within the Hispanic Heritage Month observance calendar (October 12)

People of Mexican origin accounted for just over 60% of the total 2019 U.S. Hispanic Population. Individuals of Puerto Rican origin were the next largest Hispanic group, at nearly 10% of all Hispanic Americans.

Half of all "Hispanic" individuals (where Spanish would be the official language of their country of origin) would prefer to identify themselves by their country of origin.

Many Latin American countries celebrate their national days of independence in September:

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15)
Mexico (September 16)
Chile (September 18)

2021 data found that 81% of Latinos living in the country were U.S. citizens.

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The Origins and Meaning Behind Hispanic Heritage Month

A Rutgers Latino and Caribbean studies expert explains the history and shares ways to observe the month

Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15, is a time to recognize, honor and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the Hispanic and Latin communities in America. We spoke with K. Sebastian León, an associate professor of Latino and Caribbean studies and criminal justice at the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers-New Brunswick, to learn more about the significance of the month.

Why is Hispanic Heritage Month observed from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 instead of having a dedicated calendar month like many other heritage celebrations?

Hispanic Heritage Month, or HHM, began in 1968 as a week-long observance around the independence day celebrations of several Central American countries including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Honduras. In the 1980s, it was expanded to 30 days, incorporating Columbus Day, or Dia de la Raza as it’s commonly called in South American contexts, and Indigeno

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Origins of Hispanic History Month

History Shorts: The First Hispanic Congressman Fights for His Seat

The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”

Hispanic Heritage Month actually began as a commemorative week when it was first introduced in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown. The push to recognize the contributions of the Hispanic community had gained momentum throughout the 1960s when the civil rights movement was at its peak and there was a growing awareness of the United States' multicultural identities.

Brown, who represented East Los Angeles and a large portion of the San Gabriel Valley—both heavily populated by members of the Hispanic and Latinx communities—wanted to recognize the role played by those communities throughout American history.

On September 17, 1