"NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH" CC/BY 1.0. CAROL M. HIGHSMITH, A mural painted on the side of a building to commemorate Hispanic women. It explores the various appearances and tasks that Hispanic women might take on.

History of Latinx Heritage Month

0 0
Read Time1 Minute, 38 Second

Every year, Latinx Heritage Month (LHM), or Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in the U.S. The primary purpose of LHM is to celebrate the culture, history, contributions, and  heritage of American citizens with Latinx or Hispanic descent. 

The transition from the term “Hispanic Heritage Month” to “Latinx Heritage Month” was made to be more inclusive. “Hispanic” refers to a person from Spain or a Spanish-speaking country, which includes nations colonized by Spain with a Spanish-speaking population. Meanwhile, “Latinx” is the gender-neutral term for Latino/Latina, referring  to a person descending from a Latin American country. The term “Latinx” originated from Latinos and Latinas who wanted to include non-binary citizens. 

With its creation in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, LHM started out as a week-long celebration. Following President Ronald Reagan in 1988, the celebration was extended to 30 days nationally. Since then, every U.S. President has proclaimed  to celebrate LHM from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. 

The day on which LHM begins is no coincidence. Sept. 15 is a significant date for several Latin American countries because it is their anniversary of independence from Spain. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all declared their independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821. LHM’s celebration period also coincides with other Latin American countries’ independence days. Chile and Mexico declared independence from Spain on Sept. 18 while Belize declared independence from Britain on Sept. 21.  Although some Latin American countries’ independence days do not fall between Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, they are still remembered and celebrated in LHM. 

Whether  referred to as “Hispanic Heritage Month” or “Latinx Heritage Month,” it is still annually recognized as a national celebration in the U.S. Recognizing the efforts and influence of the many Hispanic and Latinx is what shaped America into the country it is today.

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *