As America honors National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to take a moment to remind Delawareans of the important contribution Hispanic and Latino Americans have made to our nation’s rich history and culture.
The nation began observing Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover the 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.
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, also falls within this 30-day period.
In 2002, the U.S. Hispanic population officially became the largest minority in the United States. According to the last census, more than 8 percent of Delaware’s residents consider themselves of Hispanic and Latino origin.
Here in our home state, Delawareans are joining together to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. One such celebration was held last week at the Lewis Dual Language Elementary School where students, teachers, and parents gathered for a day filled with activities to help educate children on Hispanic traditions. During the day, the students and their families participated in a parade, ate traditional dishes, and took part in educational lessons.
Click here to learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Click here to learn more about Delaware’s Latin American Community Center.