Hispanic Heritage

Hispanic Heritage and Spanish Language Series - all in one place!

September 15 - October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 to promote the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic-Americans.

Several Latin American independence days are celebrated during this time, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile. However, the celebration originated in September 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an executive order for the creation of Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, the observance was extended to a month by President Ronald Reagan. 

Check out our growing Spanish Translations collection.

 

Within this Collection

Plantains | Periscope
Plantains | Periscope
Episode 23

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A plantain looks like a large banana. It is a popular food in Central America and the Caribbean. Plantains can be eaten either green or ripe, but either way, they have to be cooked. When they are...
Tapas or Chuno | Periscope
Tapas or Chuno | Periscope
Episode 22

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In Spain, potatoes are often served in "tapas" (tah-pas), or small snacks. People in the Andes Mountains often eat "chuno," a potato that has been dried out so that it does not go bad. Chuno is one of...
The Incas | Periscope
The Incas | Periscope
Episode 21

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The Incas, a Native American culture living in the Andes, developed wild potatoes into the kind of potato we eat today. The Spanish explorers brought these potatoes back with them to Spain in the...
Potatoes Are Actually from South America | Periscope
Potatoes Are Actually from South America | Periscope
Episode 20

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Though many people think the potato is from Ireland, it is actually from South America. Wild potatoes can be found in the Andes Mountains. The Andes are in the Hispanic countries of Peru, Ecuador and...
Christopher Columbus | Periscope
Christopher Columbus | Periscope
Episode 18

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Corn is the descendant of a wild grass called teosinte. Native Americans used special growing techniques to change teosinte into larger ears of corn. In 1492, Christopher Columbus brought corn back to...
Corn or Maize | Periscope
Corn or Maize | Periscope
Episode 17

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Corn, or maize, is an important part of the Hispanic diet. In fact, the corn we eat today was developed by Indians living in Southern Mexico over 7,000 years ago.
Comamos | Periscope
Comamos | Periscope
Episode 16

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Comamos is the Spanish word for "let's eat." And what we eat tells people a lot about who we are. Food is a way of life, and the foods we eat reveal our heritage, where we live, and our beliefs. You...
Celebrating the Culture of Mexico | Periscope
Celebrating the Culture of Mexico | Periscope
Episode 15

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Folk dancing is a source of national pride in Mexico. For Seira, folk dancing represents a part of her Hispanic heritage that she believes her new friends in South Carolina will enjoy and learn from...