Hispanic Heritage Month

Alice Mancilla and Samantha Egan, Co-Editor In Cheif and Staff Writer

 

From September 15 to October 15, latinos and latinas celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It celebrates the cultures and traditions of Hispanics across the world. September 15 is important because many countries including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile all celebrate their independence. 

Prior to their independence most of these countries were conquered by European countries. This meant that European diseases spread and killed many indigenous people along with their culture. Even though traditions and celebrations involved in these countries were stopped or looked down upon, Hispanic culture lives on to this day. This month is meant to celebrate the culture and traditions of Hispanic people and their independence.

There are also lots of holidays that are specific to each country. For example, in Mexico, but they were born and raised in the US. Although the term is used for Mexican Americans, people living in Central America also identify as Chicana/Chicano. Hispanic is ‘someone who is a native of, or descends from, a Spanish-speaking country.’ A Latino/Latina is a person who is native or descends from a Latin American country, like Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. A person of Latin American descent may also identify as Latinx, which is a gender-neutral term. 

Music has a major influence on Hispanic culture. There are multiple styles of music such as: Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton, Bachata, and Mariachi. Salsa music originated from eastern Cuba. The music releases a passionate, romantic, and upbeat sound that makes people want to dance. Some famous salsa artists are: Celia Cruz, Frankie Ruiz,and Héctor Lavoe. Another genre of music is Cumbia. Cumbia is a style of music that originates from Colombia. This style of music gained its popularity in Colombia, South America, Central America, and the United States. There are two types of Cumbia, Conjunto de Cumbia and Conjunto de Gaitas. Conjunto de Cumbia uses more percussion, while Conjunto de Gaitas uses woodwind instruments. The musical instruments played are: drums, flutes, maracas, and accordions. Blending these instruments together creates a rhythm filled with fun-loving, bubbly, and upbeat tunes. With a partner, Cumbia can be danced in just three steps. Famous artists that sing Cumbia are: Celso Piña, Kumbia Kings, Selena Quintanilla, Gilda, La Sonora Dinamita,etc. Reggaeton, also from September 15 to October 15, latinos and latinas celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It celebrates the cultures and traditions of Hispanics across the world. September 15 is important because many countries including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile all celebrate their independence. 

There are also lots of holidays that are specific to each country. For example, in Mexico, Independence Day is September 16, despite many believing that it is Cinco de Mayo. Another Mexican holiday is Dia de Los Muertos, which celebrates the lives of family and friends who have passed away. This holiday takes place from November 1st to the 2nd. In the Dominican Republic, January 21st is a celebration of ‘Feast of Our Lady Altagracia’. This event is celebrated by thousands of religious members who travel to the Basílica de Higüey, which is a cathedral. Dia De La Raza is on October 12th and it is the celebration and recognition of Hispanic culture and tradition that was jeopardized when European countries conquered the indigenous people of Latin America.

Food is a very important piece of hispanic culture. Hispanic food comes in a variety of flavors, shapes, and styles. Some famous dishes that are well liked around the world are: Pozole, Tamales, Chilaquiles, Sopes, Tostadas, Elote, etc. The warm, rich, spicy soup, pozole, originates from Mexico. This soup is great to have during the cold winters. There are multiple versions of Pozole you could have. There is: Balanco, Verde, and Rojo. You can top this cuisine with radish, cabbage, cilantro, onion, lime, and more hot sauce. Tamales is the most well-known Hispanic dish. This dish can be found in: Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Cuba. This dish is served while wrapped either in corn or banana husks. This helps cook and contain the masa and meat inside. Masa is a type of flour made from corn. Once the masa is in a dough form it is then spread evenly on the husk. After you add the masa you then add your filings. Some of the filings include: chicken, beef, pork, and cheese. These are typically eaten during holidays, like Christmas. Chilaquiles are breakfast dishes made from tortilla chips, cheese, pinto beans, eggs, and topped with red or green salsa. This meal comes from Mexico. Everyone should indulge in these amazing dishes.

Photo Courtesy of patijinich.com

 

Despite what people may think there are different words describing a person’s ethnicity in Latino culture. Chicano or chicana describes a person who has parents or grandparents born nown as reguetón, is a style of music that originates from Puerto Rico. Reggaeton would land in the hip hop genre. Some famous artists include: Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, etc. Bachata originates from the Dominican Republic. Some famous musicians that play Bachata are: Aventura, Toby Love, Frank Reyes, etc. Mariachi is able to lift people’s spirits. Some famous artist are: Vicente Fernández, Juan Gabriel, Lucha Villa, etc. Music is able to generate an assortment of emotions that people can relate to.

Overall, this month is a celebration of Hispanic culture and traditions. Because Hispanic culture was once in jeopardy, the month was set in place to preserve the traditions that have withstood from generations.