From September 15 to October 15, everyone of Hispanic heritage across the country is celebrated. The legacies of those who have contributed to the world of arts, politics, science, and literature, like Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Lionel Messi (Argentinian soccer player), Mario Vargas Llosa (Peruvian author), Juan Luis Guerra (Dominican singer), and many more, are commemorated and honored as their memories continue to be preserved today.
September 15 is a date with major significance because it is the independence Day for the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Because 19% of the US population consists of Latinos, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the 15th as a holiday in 1968. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded it into a month-long celebration.
In current times, new Latino remembrance projects have begun to emerge. For example, the U.S. is working on building the National Museum of American Latino in Washington DC. The purpose of the museum will be to highlight the Hispanic contributions in US history. In the area of politics, there has been an increase in Hispanic representation in US government with more Hispanic lawmakers being elected at federal, state and local levels.
Some celebrations in Hispanic culture include Dia de los Muertos which is typically celebrated in Mexico and commemorates beloved deceased family members. Another one would be Las Posadas which are celebrations in the community during Advent to celebrate the coming of Christ. A popular celebration also includes the Carnavales which are typically celebrated in
Caribbean countries during the spring and summer. They are big pueblo parties that involve dance and food.
Here at Cardinal Newman, Hispanic heritage month was celebrated with help from the multicultural club. With multiple presentations, decorations around the school, and for the first time ever inviting students to say the prayers on the announcements in Spanish, the multicultural club was able to have everyone at Newman involved in the celebrations. The multicultural club was able to gather people to sign up for morning prayer, inviting everyone, whether they spoke the language or not. We hope to continue this tradition and hope to have spread awareness about the importance of participating in the community!
