Hispanic Heritage Month

Imelda Galdamez<galdamez@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Did you know- September is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Did you know that September 15 was carefully selected as the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month in honor and remembrance of five significant Latin American countries gaining their independence? Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all declared independence on September 15 of 1821. Thanks to President Ronal Reagan in 1988 we were extended the original Hispanic Heritage week established by President Lyndon Johnson to an entire month from September 15 until October 15.

There are many great ways to commemorate the contributions made by generations of U.S. Hispanics. A few suggestions provided by the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan include but are not limited to flag raising, calendar highlighting Hispanic achievement, pot luck highlighting Hispanic foods, and exploring Hispanic films and film directors. You can find a collection of Hispanic/Latino origin labeled flags that you can print out to help you organize a flag raising or parade of flags with your group. You can also find a list of famous firsts by Hispanic Americans to help you develop a calendar highlighting Hispanic achievement.

Plan to cook up a healthy, tasty, affordable Latin American dish and enjoy with families and friends! This fun colorful recipe book illustrates 10 complete plates that resemble the five food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. These dishes will sure be the talk of the town!

Generations of U.S. Hispanics greatly contributed to the development of our nation and it is with great honor that their perseverance in excellence is commemorated. To reference a complete list of how to commemorate U.S. Hispanics throughout history please visit the Hispanic Heritage Month website. Michigan State University Extension is committed to supporting diverse communities throughout Michigan communities. We invite you to join us as we commemorate September as the Hispanic Heritage Month. Michigan State University Extension offers various educational programs for adults, families, and children. For more health and nutrition tips, visit Michigan State University Extension.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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