National Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize and celebrate the culture, history, and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans. The national celebration is held to honor the influence the culture has had on the United States. It began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, introduced by President Lyndon Johnson. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded to a whole month. 

   Sept. 15 was originally chosen as the beginning of the month because that is the same day as the Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The start of Hispanic Heritage Month also aligns with the independence days of Mexico, Chile and Belize.  

   “During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate one of the most patriotic days in Mexio, Mexico Independence Day on Sept. 16. We are always proud of our culture, but this month is an extra special month that reminds us of how proud we should be to be a Mexican family,” stated junior Abigail Barron Valle. 

   The theme for 2023 is “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.” The theme was decided by Jennifer Laskso, a human resources specialist and advisor of diversity, equity and inclusion. She wanted the theme to represent how the Hispanic community represents so many different cultures and viewpoints. The goal of Hispanic Heritage Month is to represent those from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and they want to include both young and older generations. 

   “I feel like Hispanics are getting recognized for all the things we’ve been through and do! Hispanic Heritage Month makes me feel proud to be Hispanic!” said sophomore Carlos Sobalvarro. 

   The Latino population in the United States is over 60 million, and they make up about 19% of the total population. This makes them the largest ethnic group in the country. Additionally, according to the U.S. Census Bureau one in four children are Hispanic/Latino. 

   There are many ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and places you can go to view and be exposed to the different cultures. The Library of Congress holds performances, lectures, exhibits and much more in its 20 reading rooms. The Hispanic Reading Room is a specific part of the library that holds over 800 audio recording from Hispanic writers, and they release 50 recordings during the month.  

   Many museums will also host events and exhibits that honor and showcase art, exhibitions, history, music and more. The Smithsonian Institution, which consists of 17 museums and galleries, recently built the National Museum of the American Latino.  

   Following that, they opened the Molina Family Latino Gallery, which was the first dedicated museum section to celebrate the experience of the American Latino. It holds artifacts, art and biographies that help demonstrate the community, their experience and the impact they have had on the country through history. They offer a self-guided virtual tour and an interactive map of the gallery on their website. 

   There are several events and places you can go in Tennessee to be exposed to the culture and history involved in Hispanic Heritage month or to just celebrate. The Nashville Zoo is hosting a Hispanic Heritage Festival with Conexion Americas, a Nashville-based nonprofit that hopes to create opportunities for Latino families. The festival will include dance performances, a wide array of musicians, puppet shows and lessons all done in Spanish.  

   There are plenty of ways to celebrate without going out to an event or exhibit though. It is important to learn about their cultures and the influential Hispanic Americans who have had significant effects on America. There are also many charities and nonprofits made to help the diverse needs of the community. Eating traditional foods from these cultures is another way to celebrate. Trying a recipe from a different culture or going out and supporting your local businesses are both great ways to celebrate and appreciate different Hispanic cultures and their impact. 

   “Every year we throw a fiesta Mexicana, and we invite all of our family friends. We listen to many different types of music like pop, cumbia and recodo,” stated Barron Valle. 

   Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the impacts Hispanic Americans have made. It is a great time to be introduced to the art and history from their culture and their many accomplishments and achievements. It is the perfect time to learn about their cultures, art, music, stories and history. The theme “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One” is a perfect representation of the month and all the different, wonderful things there are to celebrate about Hispanic Heritage Month.