This week marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The observation, which began as a week in 1968 and expanded to a month in 1989, honors and celebrates the culture, histories, and traditions of people and their ancestors who come from Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. 

The following countries celebrate their independence this month:

• Sept. 15 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all declared their independence from Spain in 1821 
• Sept. 16 – Mexico gained their independence from Spain in 1821 
• Sept. 18 – Chile commemorates their independence from Spain in 1810  
• Sept. 21 – Belize celebrates their independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 

“You only have what you give. It’s by spending yourself that you become rich.”  ~ Isabel Allende

By observing National Hispanic Heritage Month, individuals are encouraged to recognize and appreciate the diverse cultures in our community and pay tribute to the contributions Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made to the United States and beyond.

 

Isabel Allende is a Chilean journalist and author from Lima, Peru, who now makes her home in San Francisco, California. She has written over 20 books that have been translated into more than 35 languages and sold more than 67 million copies. Isabel is not only a remarkably successful Spanish-language novelist, but she also exemplifies the contributions Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made to the United States and beyond. In 2014, President Barack Obama presented Isabel with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.