UNM Celebrates 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month

History

SEPTEMBER: National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the culture, heritage, and contributions of Hispanic Americans each year. The event began in 1968 when Congress deemed the week including September 15 and 16 National Hispanic Heritage Week to celebrate the contributions and achievements of the diverse cultures within the Hispanic community. The dates were chosen to commemorate two key historic events: Independence Day, honoring the formal signing of the Act of Independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15, 1821), and Mexico’s Independence Day, which denotes the beginning of the struggle against Spanish control (September 16, 1810). It was not until 1988 that the event was expanded to month-long period, which includes El Dia de la Raza on October 12, which celebrates the influences of the people who came after Christopher Columbus and the multicultural, multiethnic society that evolved as a result; Chile’s Independence Day on September 18 (El Dieciocho); and Belize’s Independence Day on September 21. Each year a different theme for the month is selected and a poster is created to reflect that theme.

Campus Activities

The University of New Mexico Department of Anthropology celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The department website features a page full of resources for Hispanic Heritage Month, including UNM Hispanic organizations, Hispanic Heritage Month history, Hispanic scholars, events, research, news, and Hispanic organizations.
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Presentation and discussion on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) at the Latin American and Iberian Institute and a showing of the film adaptation of Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Hosted by: Latin American & Iberian Institute