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September is Hispanic Heritage Month
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September 5, 2024Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually in the United States from September 15 through October 15. The official celebration dates to 1968 which originated as a week-long event with President Lyndon B. Johnson issuing the first Presidential Proclamation. U.S. Representative Esteban E. Torres of California encouraged an expansion of the timeframe so that the nation could “properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.” On September 14, 1989, President George H. W. Bush extended the celebration to 31 days marking the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.
You may hear the terms Hispanic and Latino interchanged frequently. “Latino/a” generally refers to individuals with heritage from Latin American and the Caribbean, while “Hispanic” refers to those with heritage from Spain.
The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with important dates in history for the Hispanic community living in the U.S. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Mexico also declared its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. Chile’s independence from Spain was declared on September 18, 1810, while Belize declared its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981. These historical dates are similar to the 4th of July celebrations in the U.S.
According to the Pew Research Center, Catholics are the largest group among Hispanics residing in the U.S. There are 58,928 Hispanics within the 16 counties of our diocese (2020 Census data), with most located in Brown County followed by Outagamie, Winnebago and Manitowoc counties. Over the years, the Diocese of Green Bay recognized the growing Hispanic populations and began offering Masses celebrated in Spanish. There are currently 14 parishes that offer Masses in Spanish.
Our community is filled with Hispanic faces. You might find yourself eating at a local restaurant, interacting with families at school events or sitting next to them at Sunday Mass. Celebrations are important for Hispanic families, and there’s a good chance you might see festivities commemorating these days of historical importance. Celebrations in the homelands often include parades, music, traditional dancers, fireworks and presidential speeches. Local celebrations include music, dancing, parades and traditional food.
If you are interested in discovering more about our local Hispanic communities, reach out to parishes where Spanish Mass is offered and volunteer. Join Catholic Charities at these community events this fall: Latino Fest on September 14 in Appleton, as well as Kewaunee’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration and International & Community Festival in Green Bay, both on September 28. You can also check out the Smithsonian’s website which has a section dedicated to Hispanic Heritage Month and lists key Latino/a figures who represented and shaped Latin/Hispanic communities.
Laurie Martinez is the Immigration Services Manager with Catholic Charities.
Photo Caption: Ruth Karakas, Immigration Counselor with Catholic Charities.
