Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Every year, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of histories, cultures and contributions made by American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. This month-long celebration is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on Sept. 16, while Chile marks the occasion on Sept. 18. Columbus Day, also known as Día de la Raza, falls on Oct. 12.