Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. During this time, people across the country celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors are of Hispanic and Latino descent.

It was President Lyndon B. Johnson who in 1968 declared it as Hispanic Heritage Week, and it was later adopted for a whole month under President Ronald Reagan in 1988. This became a federal law in August 1988. 

Forward to 2023, and the influence and contributions of Americans of Hispanic and Latin descent are felt in our everyday lives. From Taco Tuesday to Birthday Piñatas or Dia de Muertos, one cannot deny the US has not embraced, but it has included Hispanic and Latino culture in our everyday lives.

To ensure we all are part of the celebration, let’s review some ideas for bringing Hispanic Heritage Month to your home and family.

Pick up a book by a Hispanic Author! One of the most exciting things in the US is the fact that we have an array of cultures at our fingertips. Many schools offer Spanish as early as Kindergarten, and some even dual immersion language programs. If your child can’t access either of the above, we have you covered! Here are some titles your little ones will love as they capture the Hispanic experience while providing some quality reading time:

  • A Gift from Abuela by Cecilia Ruiz
  • Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
  • Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena 
  • Felipa and the Day of the Dead by Bertie Mueller 
  • Friends from the Other Side by Gloria E. Anzaldúa – 6 yrs. Old +

Visit a Mexican import store! Do you want to travel midday or afternoon to a foreign country and be home by dinner? Visit a Mexican Mercado! I am always in awe of how much we love Mexican food and yet have discovered very little of it! While there are plenty of options for food, if you really want to experience the culture and its people, it is time for you to take a trip to a Mercado and discover not only food but candies, cakes, pastries, and much more! Some fun and amazing locations are as follows:

  • La Tapatia Market 18330 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97233
  • Super Mercado Mexico 970 SE Oak St, Hillsboro, OR 97123
  • La Yucateca 4620 NE Cully Blvd, Portland, OR 97218
  • Dos Hermanos Bakery 4082 N Williams Ave. Portland, OR  97227

Watch a Spanish-speaking show or movie! One of the most exciting things about TV is that you can now watch shows from all over the world, sometimes with subtitles and sometimes dubbed! I suggest you surf for titles honoring Hispanic and Latino Heritage and play them in Spanish, but remember you can add English subtitles to check how much you can understand! Some exciting titles are:

  • Vivo in Netflix
  • El Camino de Xico Netflix
  • Blue Beetle in Movie Theaters
  • Dora and the Lost City of Gold Amazon Prime
  • Spy Kids Paramount+
  • The Book of Life in Max
  • Coco from Disney+

Play Loteria! If you like Bingo, you are going to love Loteria! Loteria is a traditional Mexican game with colorful and fun cards. 

Cards are drawn, and the pictures on the cards are matched to Bingo-like grid cards, each showing 16 of the 54 possible cards. Like Bingo, one may win by matching all of the fields on the grid card or by matching a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line. 

Cook a meal together! If you do happen to make it to one of the area’s Hispanic  Markets, why not find a recipe to shop while you are there? Cooking is one of the most fun and delicious ways to celebrate another culture. Look up a recipe and have fun with the flavor and colorful recipes Hispanic food is about. Not sure what to cook? Tacos are a very simple thing to do! Below is a quick “flautas” recipe or taquitos, as some of you know them to be. 

Get a pound or two of chicken. Cook it in boiling water with salt, onion, pepper, and garlic to taste. Let it cook through, shred, and put aside once it cools down. Grab tortillas of your choice (I prefer corn tortillas) and warm them up in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften them up. Once you do that, fill them with shredded chicken with a toothpick and place them on a frying pan with hot oil. Be careful not to burn them by turning them to ensure each side is toasted to your preference. Top with sour cream and queso fresco, and if you like salsa, go for green … it is the best! Not sure how to cook salsa? Pick up a jar of Herdez salsa (best canned and imported)  from your grocery store and enjoy!

Last but not least, seek out those around you who are of Hispanic descent! No, it is not weird! In fact, it is nice when you ask someone about their heritage! Even more, if you want to celebrate them! Not sure you are up to the task? No worries! Google and look up Hispanic Heritage Month events in the Portland Metro Area.