Commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
We have many people on staff and people we serve who are Hispanic/Latino. Do you get these two terms confused? Simply put, Hispanic refers to language (people who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking populations) and Latino refers to geography (people from or descended from people from Latin America). Learn more.
Why does this month-long celebration start in mid-September? September 15 coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico on the 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st. Día de la Raza, or Indigenous Peoples Day, is celebrated in Mexico and other countries on October 12. In total, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates communities with roots in 20 Latin American countries and territories. American Latinos make up more than 19% of the United States population (1 in every 4 children is Hispanic/Latino).
Check out these events honoring Hispanic Heritage Month:
- Finance workshops, storytime, craft-making, and other events at the New York Public Library (all month long)
- Hispanic Heritage Cultural Celebration at the Staten Island Ferry Hawk Stadium (September 20)
- Mexican Day Parade in Manhattan (September 21)
- Hispanic Day Parade in Queens (September 21)
- Programming and exhibitions at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library (ongoing)
- Brand-new exhibits at El Museo del Barrio (August 28-September 18)
We stand with our staff, friends, neighbors, the people we serve, and all Hispanic Americans. We will continue to work towards racial equity and social justice.
