4 Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Baby PeaTree celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. We do this by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Some of you may wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month starts mid-September. This 30-day period is significant for several reasons. "Sept. 15 is the independence anniversary of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, whereas Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. Día de la Raza is also observed during HHM, on Oct. 12." (hispanicheritagemonth.gov)
If you're anything like me, you're looking for some fun ways to celebrate the rest of Hispanic Heritage Month. Below are 4 ways to celebrate!
1. Research Hispanic Events
Going to a Hispanic event is a great way to support the community while also being able to fully embrace multiple cultures.
If you're in the LA area, LATINAFest is definitely something to add to the list for fun October activities! "LATINAFest is a community-based organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote unity, diversity, and economic inclusion, and to amplify the Latina voice while championing Latina entrepreneurs, activists, and artists who are committed to uplifting and empowering the Latina community. Empowerment, identity, cultural pride, and inspiration!"
Join us on October 22 at LATINAFest for:
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Over 100 Latina entrepreneurial vendors (the heart of our festival) will be offering everything from, clothing, jewelry, sweets, shoes, hats, culturally relevant products, financial information, "limpias' , massages, etc.
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Empowerment Backdrops: Show off your Latina Power and take pictures in front of one of our many backdrops
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LATINAFest Cocktail Garden for refreshing spirits and much more!
2. Support Hispanic-Owned Small Businesses
Supporting Hispanic-owned and operated businesses not only increases their influence on the local community but also ensures that future generations have access to cultural capital.
On my Instagram, you will find a list of 9 Hispanic and woman-owned businesses.
3. Offer A Cooking Lesson
If you have Hispanic heritage, this month would be the perfect time to offer a cooking lesson to a friend or younger loved-one! Food plays such an important role within every culture, so taking this time to teach someone how to make a dish can be very connecting to your culture.
On the flip side, maybe you're the one in need of a cooking lesson. Reach out to a loved one to work on perfecting an authentic dish you've been wanting to master!
Here's a list of authentic dishes from my heritage that I've been meaning to perfect:
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My momma's Pozole (I have been practicing the past 5 years, and I must say I am getting better each holiday season)
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My Nana's chicken taquitos (As a Christmas gift last year, one of my Aunt's gave me Nana's recipe and I actually made them with my mom a few weeks ago)
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Mole - It's my favorite and one of the few recipes I have never attempted to make
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My mom's huevos ranchero salsa (it's one of my favorite breakfasts)
4. Get Your Leaders Talking
Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to work! If your work doesn't already have a system in place to show appreciation to their Hispanic employees, it would be a great idea to discuss the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month. You can also ask your Hispanic and Latino leaders to discuss their lives, career journeys, and achievements in the context of their heritages, cultures, and identities.
Below is a list of questions to ask your HR team related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI):
- How do we get the entire company—including our leadership team—on board with DEI initiatives?
- Do you think our company celebrates diverse ideas and people?
- How do you think the company can improve its diversity efforts in the future?
- How well does HR work towards hiring candidates from underrepresented groups?
- On a scale of 1 to 5, how well do you think employees can talk about their background without being judged?