Across the country this month, museums and libraries are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The Smithsonian Institution, for example, is teaming up with Lil’ Libros, a bilingual children’s book publisher, to offer a slate of Hispanic Heritage Month activities that range from story times to arts and crafts workshops. The U.S. Postal Service is also getting in the spirit, releasing new Forever stamps featuring pinatas. The handmade party favorites are best known for being the target of blindfolded kids trying to crack them open to score candy inside, but they have a rich history that can be traced back to the 16th century.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The start date is determined by the anniversary of five countries’ independence: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. The celebration ends in October, which is when many Latin American countries celebrate their own independence from Spain.
There are more than 50 million Hispanic and Latino people in the United States, representing a diverse group of cultures, histories, languages and traditions. People of Hispanic origin come from more than 22 nations and territories spanning from the present-day southwestern United States to South America and beyond. In 2022, the largest Hispanic groups in the nation were people of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, with more than 1 million each living in the Orlando and Miami metropolitan areas, and Washington, D.C.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the rich diversity of Hispanic and Latin cultures in the United States, and to honor the values that unify them: family, faith and community. Those values are as vital now as they have been throughout the centuries.
The word Hispanic can be confusing, especially in the United States where it refers to someone who is of Spanish-speaking origin and is not specifically of European descent. The term Latino has gained in popularity, reflecting that so many people of Hispanic origin have ties to Latin America. It is a more inclusive term that can include a wide variety of cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, including those from indigenous and Afro-Latino communities.
One thing that is not confusing, however, is the importance Hispanic and Latin cultures place on family. In fact, family is at the heart of every culture, and Hispanic and Latin cultures are no exception. From family parties (like fiestas and posadas) to family-style cooking (like new Mexican stacked red chile beef enchiladas), Hispanic and Latina/o/x families are known for their vibrant celebrations and deep sense of community. We sat down with K. Sebastian Leon, associate professor of Latino and Caribbean studies and criminal justice at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, to learn more about these values and the impact they have on Hispanic and Latin communities in the United States. We also asked him for his favorite Hispanic Heritage Month traditions and dishes.