From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.
It’s a very important celebration for all of us who speak Spanish and live in the United States. Achievements and contributions of important Hispanic figures are celebrated and events are held throughout the month to highlight our value and help us get ahead.
The celebration was created by the US government in 1968 and was reinforced in the 70s. In those years, it was Hispanic Week, but in 1988, President Ronald Reagan extended it to a whole month.
That’s why schools always have a week or a day in which children bring a traditional dish from their country of origin. In some cases, students even dress in traditional clothing, make projects and decorate classrooms with different flags and photos.
The kitchens of this country are seasoned by Hispanics. Our gastronomy is our pride. It is diverse, well-seasoned and, as part of our heritage, must be taken care of. It is one of our strengths and is an act of love.
Here are some ways you can extend the celebration and give away some love and flavor, especially amongst the non-Hispanic communities in the United States in order to make a difference.
- If you have children, prepare a small dish they can take to class. Tell your child a memory you have with that dish and let them share it with their classmates.
- Share a recipe and a memory of the dish and send it to all the parents you know. You can print the recipe, wrap it as a diploma, and tie a ribbon the color of your flag around it.
- At work, encourage the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Organize a lunch with your coworkers and have everyone bring something from their favorite country or their country of origin.
- Do the same in your community. Make a nice gesture to the neighbors by bringing them a tasty snack or traditional drink.
- If you always visit the same supermarket, beauty salon, post office or police office, send a gesture of love to them, too.
The idea is to make us feel good, share our flavor, our pride and above all, give love to the community. Let's celebrate our Hispanic heritage in style!
