Why National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year in US?

Team Udayavani, Sep 17, 2020, 6:06 PM IST

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. It is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities.

Hispanic Americans are currently the largest minority group in the US with a population of over 5.7 crore

It was started by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, and was extended to an entire month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988

As reported by History, The push to recognize the contributions of the Latinx community had gained momentum throughout the 1960s when the civil rights movement was at its peak and there was a growing awareness of the United States’ multicultural identities.

It is said that the day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

According to TIME, Every year, events honouring Hispanic American art and culture are organised by several institutions, including The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum