Loading ...Hispanic Heritage Month, a month long celebration dedicated to the Hispanic community in our nation, started Sept. 15 and ended on Oct. 15.
First devised by President Lyndon Johnson, Hispanic Heritage Month used to span only a week, but it was later expanded to a month in 1998 by Ronald Reagan.
The honorary month starts on Sept. 15th to commemorate the independence of 5 Latin American nations: El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
Hispanic Heritage month is celebrated nationwide, and Prince George’s County is no stranger to the festivities. Last month, the county celebrated its 33rd annual Hispanic Festival in Adelphi. The festival included live entertainment, foods, prizes, and music.
Local Latin bands played a variety of Latin American music such as Bachata, Merengue, and tango, but what drew more crowds was the food. The festival offered a variety of traditional foods that festival-goers could see being prepared. For people who wanted to have a hands-on experience, stations were placed around the festival where people could make their own tortillas.
The Hispanic festival also included moon bounces, a petting zoo for the children, and a mural that whoever would like to paint could.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School has its own ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. Every day starting from the 15th of September, Hispanic music was played on the morning announcements. The Latino Student Association and the Spanish Honor Society also hosted Hispanic night, dedicated to the Hispanic influences in our community, in the foreign language hallway. Students had to wear clothing that represents Hispanic culture.
Hispanic Heritage month is widely celebrated is public schools.