Each year, people in the United States recognize the time from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a month dedicated to celebrate, reflect, and appreciate the contributions of the people from Spanish speaking countries. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates countries in Central and South America, and they all are special in their own ways.

People can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in many different ways. Some of the most popular ways to celebrate are by eating specific food or listening to music that comes from these Latin roots. Popular dishes include tamales from Mexico, empanadas from Venezuela, and churros from Spain.

Music also plays a key role in Hispanic culture. Today, some of the most popular genres of Spanish-language music in the U.S. include cumbia, salsa, bachata, reggaeton, and corridos. Hispanic people have different styles of traditional dress depending on where they are from. Some widely known apparel are sombreros (hats), hipiles (dress), and botas (boots).

Hispanic Heritage Month means a lot to many Hispanic people. According to USNews, the percentage of Hispanics at FHS is about 20 percent. Walking the halls of FHS, there are many posters made by students that represent this special month and what it means. Senior Linda Jimenez said, “…this month is always enjoyable with family and friends, especially since it’s a tradition.” Junior Estrella Arellano said, “…I feel proud of how amazing my culture is and to see many people see how gorgeous it is, is just amazing.”