Sept. 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a 30-day period that celebrates the culture, history and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean and Central and South America. 

The celebratory month originated in 1968 under President Johnson and became law on August 17, 1988. Many Hispanic holidays occur during the celebratory month: Columbus Day falls on October 12 this year; and Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively; October 15 marks the anniversary of independence for many Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. 

Hispanic people have played a major role in population growth in the U.S. in recent years. The Hispanic population in America has increased from 50.5 million to 62.1 million in the span of ten years. Additionally, the U.S. population grew by 22.7 million from 2010 to 2020, and Hispanics accounted for 51% of this increase, a greater share than any other racial or ethnic group.

This year, Santa Fe’s Spanish Club is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in many ways, such as hosting a paint night and chalking the school walkways with festive colors. Check out their Instagram page (@sfwolvesspanish) to find more information on how you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!