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As of the halfway point of September, we have officially kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month! Beginning September 15 and lasting through October 15, the month-long celebration honors the Latinx and Hispanic communities around the United States. Different parts of the country hold different celebrations, with some being dedicated to celebrating the life of important Latinx figures from our history, and others focusing on cultural impact. Furthermore, many countries have Independence Days that fall in this month timeframe, which are also celebrated fully in Hispanic Heritage Month.

Many do not actually know that Hispanic and Latinx are cultural backgrounds, not racial identities.

On Census forms, individuals are considered Hispanic or Latinx if they have origins from countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, or have any other form of Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish origin. This inclusive definition encompasses a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, all of which are celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month goes back several decades in U.S. history, first beginning in 1968. The concept first began with Congressman George E. Brown from California. Serving as a House Representative from 1963 to 1971, Brown represented a district with a significant Hispanic and Latinx population. Recognizing the need to celebrate these communities’ contributions to American society, Brown proposed a commemorative week. This proposal was signed into law by Congress on September 17, 1968, establishing a week-long celebration starting on September 15th. The timing was chosen to coincide with several Latin American Independence Days, to heighten the significance of the celebration.

The first week coincided perfectly with eight Independence Days.

The five countries with an Independence Day in the week of September 15 are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, all of which declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Mexico’s independence is celebrated a day later, on September 16, 1810. This week also includes other significant dates, such as Chile’s independence on September 18th and Belize’s on September 21st.

The celebration continued to consist of one week until 1987, Representative Esteban E. Torres from California proposed extending the week to a full month, and this idea was supported by Senator Paul Simon from Illinois in 1988. The expansion was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan later that year. President George H.W. Bush was the first to officially designate September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month, solidifying the month as a time for national recognition of Hispanic and Latinx contributions.