Today, September 15, begins National Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/a Americans. The month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. September 15 has been set as the starting date because it is the independence anniversary for many Latin American countries.
Hispanic Heritage Month began as a way to promote the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic-Americans—specifically, those whose ancestors come from the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Spain, and South America.
The 2025 theme is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating traditions and achievements of Latino and Latina Americans while looking forward to the creativity of and hopes for future generations.
Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latinx presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the U.S. The Latinx population in the United States today is over 60 million, making about 19% of the total population, and constituting the largest racial or ethnic group.