A Brief History of Hispanic Heritage Month | History in a Nutshell Extra

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Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States begins on September 15 and runs through October 15! Have you wondered why September 15th was chosen as the day to begin this celebration? As it turns out, 5 Latin American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all observe their independence days on the same day! Mexico and Chile also celebrate their respective days of independence in close succession.  

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the achievements of famous Hispanic Americans and to celebrate Latino cultures and traditions! In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson established Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 to "honor the impact that people of Hispanic descent have had in the U.S." Twenty years later, Pres. Ronald Reagan expanded the week into a full month in 1988. Each Hispanic Heritage Month has a theme, and the theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”

Explore more content from our Hispanic Heritage Month collection.

History in a Nutshell features short, sweet and to the point historical content. These short-form "factoids" highlight various observances throughout the year, such as anniversaries, holidays, people, and more!