Are you sad that Hispanic Heritage Month has come and gone so quickly? I feel like I went to sleep and woke up and it had flown by as a bright and colorful dream.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the celebrations that took place across the country, and then we’re going to look forward to the years to come, because the wonders of culture and language are too grand to fit in one month – like abuelita bringing out a big plate of pasteles when you’re already stuffed to the full from dinner.
Looking Back
Since its establishment in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in countless ways, each state, city, and family making it their own. Here are some unique ways that it was celebrated this year, September 15th to October 15, 2022:
In sunny Los Angeles, California, the city celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month month by offering free Latino-themed movies in the park. “Our parks have a deep, long-standing connection to our Latino community, which includes murals depicting its rich history, to having parks named after prominent Latino leaders,” said Norma Edith García-González, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. “And we’re looking to really highlight Hispanic Heritage Month by saying that Latinx stories are American stories.”
All the way across the country in Nashville, Tennessee, crowds were mesmerized by the colorful, flowing skirts and rhythm of the performers of Sol de Mexico. This Mexican folk dance group is intent on preserving the tradition of Baile Folklorico and is taught to future generations. “You have to know where you’re from to know where you’re going,” Rodriguez said.
ABC News television program, “Good Morning America,” highlighted Latina entrepreneurs and business owners such as Annie Leal, who invented a sugar- and carb-free chamoy and Sherly Tavarez, who started ‘Hause of Curls,’a fashion brand influenced by the Latinx and mixed-race cultures. “Latino-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. small business ecosystem, according to Stanford University’s 2020 State of Latino Entrepreneurship report, and women are driving much of that growth, representing 40% of all Latino business owners.” (1)
Looking Forward
Even though the “official” celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month has come to an end, by no means are we done celebrating the Hispanic and Latino culture and language. There are still dishes to be cooked and consumed, dances to be practiced and performed, and businesses to be planned and executed all year long. Cultural Bytes knows how crucial language is to unite people and keep tradition alive, and our proven methods guarantee growth and fun as we explore cultural food, dance, games, places and more! If you want your child to grow in their Spanish and celebrate the Hispanic culture all year long, consider signing up for a free virtual Spanish class with us. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 from us to you, and may it be but the beginning of celebrating your roots and traditions.
