Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.
Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In his presidential proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month, President Joe Biden wrote:
“I have often said that America can be defined in one word: possibilities. The Hispanic community has always embodied that ideal. It lives in the dreams of those who have only just arrived here and in the legacy of families who have been here for centuries. Latinos have helped chart America’s course since our start — as doctors and engineers; artists and entrepreneurs; and leaders in science, business, labor, government, and military and across grassroots movements. Their faith and drive have pushed our country to grow, prosper, and pursue its highest ideals.”
- Read the Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Read the Presidential Proclamation on National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a video commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month and shared how the U.S. Department of Education is raising the bar for an excellent, equitable, and more inclusive education for every Latino student, family and community.
Check out the Initiative’s Calendar to learn of in-person and virtual events that the Initiative and our federal partners are hosting during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Resources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Hispanics in the United States: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Census Bureau: National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2023
- Census Bureau: Facts for Features: Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 (Spanish)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
- Library of Congress: National Hispanic Heritage Month
- NASA: Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Archives: Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Endowment for the Humanities: Hispanic Heritage and History in the United States
- National Park Service: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Patent and Trademark Office: Hispanic Heritage and Inventions
- Smithsonian Institution: Heritage and History Month Events
- Smithsonian Institution: Top 8 Reasons Why and How We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
- Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino: Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: USDA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- U.S. Department of Defense: Hispanic Heritage Month
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics: Hispanic Heritage Month Fast Facts
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Hispanic Heritage Month
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health: Hispanic Heritage Month
- U.S. Department of the Interior: Discover Hispanic Heritage at these historic sites
- U.S. Department of Labor: Hispanic Women Elevating Workers’ Rights
- U.S. Department of Labor: Celebrating the Rise of Hispanic Women Workers
- U.S. Department of Labor: 5 Hispanic Leaders Who Changed Labor History
- U.S. Department of Labor: Data Spotlight: Employment of Hispanics with Disabilities in Skilled Trades Professions
- U.S. Department of State: Hispanic Heritage Month
- U.S. Department of the Treasury: Treasury Department Report Card: Latino Business Ownership Up, Pandemic Recovery Efforts Helped Grow Latino-owned Businesses
- U.S. Navy: Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Navy