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.
Photo
Members of Sabor have Hispanic roots in Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. From these places, they bring us the sounds of salsa, rumba, merengue, cha cha cha, guaguanco, and mambo...
Photo
The number one conga player in Cuba in the 1930s was Chano Pozo. Chano was the "best of the best," and soon he was playing beside Dizzy in the United States! In the 1940s, Chano and other Cuban...
Photo
During the 1920s, the sound of "rumba" music took over Cuba. Rumba was great to dance to, as it was played with many types of percussion instruments. The congas stood out as rumba's major percussion...
Photo
South Carolina played a big part in the creation of Latin Jazz! From Sabor, we learned that Latin jazz music has roots right here in South Carolina. Dizzy Gillespie, a famous jazz trumpet player from...
Photo
Campana: A cowbell used in Cuban music. It is sometimes attached to another instrument called the "timbales."
Photo
Claves: Two sticks used to make a simple rhythm in Cuban music such as rumba. It is used in many other forms of Latin American music as well.
Photo
Timbales: A set of tuneable metal drums invented in Cuba. They are often accompanied by campana.
Photo
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.
Photo
Congas: Drums played with the hands and often used in salsa and rumba music. Congas play a major role in Latin jazz bands.
