Each year, from September 15 through October 15, the United States recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month. Texan President Lyndon Johnson first instated National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, and President Ronald Regan expanded it to an entire month in 1988.
We begin our celebration on September 15 because that is Independence Day for several Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Chile and Mexico mark their Independance Days later that same week. The national month therefore kicks off on the 15th of September, and then runs through the middle of October, when the world, but particularly the Western hemisphere, marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Island of Hispaniola.
While the United States’ official observance of October 12th emphasizes Christopher Columbus and his Italian heritage, the nature of how this day is marked throughout the Americas has evolved significantly in recent years. In Latin America, the day generally celebrates the distinctive ethnic and cultural influences of Hispanic culture.
Further Reading: