Riverhead High School came alive with music, dance and cultural pride Friday night as students, families and staff gathered to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with performances, displays and food honoring Hispanic and Latino heritage.
The evening capped off a month of celebrations and programs highlighting Hispanic and Latino heritage at the district’s schools.
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, is observed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, according to the magazine Hispanic Outlook on Education. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, which is Oct. 12, falls within this 30-day period.
The Hispanic population of the United States was 68 million as of July 1, 2024, making it the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority — 20% of the total population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the histories and cultures of Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. First established as a weeklong observance in 1968, it was expanded to a month in 1988.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
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