Hispanic Heritage Month has officially started this month; here’s everything you need to know. Hispanic Heritage Month goes on from September 15  to October 15. The reason it starts on the 15th rather than the first is because it is the anniversary of independence for many Latin-American countries. The main point of Hispanic Heritage Month is to celebrate Hispanic and Latino culture. Those celebrations can also include the contributions Latinas and Latinos have had in the United States and Hispanic and Latino history.

Hispanic Heritage Month is so important to have for so many reasons. It is because Latinos have had very important and significant roles in our country and deserve recognition. Hispanic Heritage Month gives a chance to show off experiences of Hispanics and Latinos to recognize their history, journeys, and achievements. It is important to have representation of them since many Hispanics and Latinos live in Alhambra. It also honors the Hispanics and Latinos who fought and gave up their lives for their communities.

Hispanic Heritage Month offers many different ways to celebrate and honor the contributions of Hispanic culture. Whether it is supporting Hispanic-Owned businesses or diving into vibrant community events like concerts, art exhibitions, and music festivals, there’s something for everyone. To kick off this month of celebration, Barnes Park hosted a lively mariachi performance in its first week. Meanwhile, Monterey Park has an exciting lineup of events planned, including a community altar, arts and crafts activities, and movie screenings. Mark Keppel High School has even started a new thing where on every Wednesday they play Hispanic music during lunch! 

Mrs. Alexia Martinez, Keppel’s CTE teacher that teaches fashion and child development, was asked why she thinks Hispanic Heritage Month is important and her opinion on it as she is Mexican herself. She said “The attention is good to have. I am in support of these types of events and learning about cultures. Also, having certain months for different cultures is a great thing to expand our knowledge about cultures.” Another student that was interviewed, Meagan Mejia, a junior at Mark Keppel, states that she tries to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by going to more Latino owned businesses and events. She also states that Mark Keppel High School should do much more than just music at lunch on Wednesday. She said that looking around campus you don’t see much of Hispanic Heritage Month and that needs to change. 

Overall, don’t forget to show your support to Hispanics and Hispanic owned businesses you know this month. It is appreciated if you acknowledge all the events that are being held this month and the decorations. Have a great Hispanic Heritage Month to all Latinos and Hispanics!