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.
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Guiro: A scraper sometimes used in Latin jazz. The Cuban and Puerto Rican form is made from a notched gourd and played with a stick.
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Congas: Drums played with the hands and often used in salsa and rumba music. Congas play a major role in Latin jazz bands.
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Bongos: Two small drums played between the knees, often used in Afro-Cuban music. The "Bongocero" is the name for a bongo player. Cencerro: A cowbell played by the "Bongocero," or bongo player. It can...
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Jazz music originated in the United States. It was created by African Americans in the early 1900s. The sound of jazz was influenced by West African rhythms and music, and American folk music. A...
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What would you make with all of these foods? Try having a Hispanic feast at your school that uses a few, or all, of these Latin American foods.
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There are over 60 types of chili pepper. Some are really, really hot, so watch out when you handle them! If you want the pepper taste without the fire alarms going off, try the bell pepper.
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The chili pepper is used to flavor many Hispanic dishes. It was originally grown in South America, and it too was brought to Europe by Spanish explorers. From Europe, the chili found its way into...
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Black beans are native to Latin America. Fifty-percent of the beans eaten in the Latin American country of Cuba are black beans. In Cuba a meal of black beans and rice, or "frijoles negros con arroz,"...
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People in Central and South America have grown and eaten many kinds of beans for thousands of years. Ancient cultures such as the Inca ate beans as a major part of their diet. During the 1500s...
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In Spain, the recipe for chocolate changed a bit. The Spanish sweetened the chocolate drink with sugar and drank it hot. By the 1700s, chocolate was a prized sweet all over Europe. Today, churros with...
