It’s almost time to kick off Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month celebrations. The month long observance spans from September 15 to October 15 and highlights the cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. One day later Mexico celebrates their independence. The 30-day period was first observed in 1988 and the celebrations have grown each year.
Celebrate
- Spend some time in the kitchen cooking with spices and ingredients that make Latin American food so delicious such as cumin, paprika, corn, chili peppers and shredded beef.
- Lean a new game! The card game Lotería is similar to Bingo
- Educate yourself about traditions of celebrations. Different communities recognize the holiday in various ways. Some dance, others play with piñatas, you can explore Hispanic and Latino traditions around celebrations here.
- Read books by Hispanic and Latino authors to get a better understanding of where they come from.
- Movie night! Pick a film that explores Hispanic and Latino culture. There are many kid-friendly movie options.
- Grab your dancing shoes… learn how to salsa or pick up on some Spanglish-taught cumbia moves.
Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month is a time for everyone to show appreciation to our Hispanic and Latino friends, families and community members.
Learn more abut events hosted by the UNC Carolina Latinx Center.