From September 15 to October 15, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the heritage, history, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic Americans whose heritage is rooted in Spain and 19 countries and territories: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
This heritage month is celebrated mid-September to mid-October to highlight the independence of several countries. September 15 is the day that five Latin American countries celebrate their independence from Spain: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. Also, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, or Día de la Raza, in mid-October, falls within this 30-day period.
The national observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting September 15 and ending October 15 of each year. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. Each year the President of the United States issues a proclamation at the start of the observance.
Each year, the NCHEPM leads the process to select the annual theme and corresponding poster that federal agencies will use when observing Hispanic Heritage Month.
Annual Theme & Poster
Theme submissions are now being accepted for the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month!
NCHEPM members, associates, and partners from various federal agencies and affinity groups, including the general public, select the theme through a voting process which is coordinated by the NCHEPM. The theme selected by the NCHEPM membership is used by Federal agencies and organizations throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Hispanic Heritage Month Theme selection process will consist of Three (3) Phases:
Phase One (1): Members are invited to submit their 2024 theme suggestions along with a short write up of the meaning of the submitted theme by March 18, 2024. Please limit the theme write-up to two (2) paragraphs. Themes and write-ups should be submitted via email, using the attached pdf., to: nationalcouncilhepm@gmail.com.
Phase Two (2): Theme suggestions and write-ups will be compiled and distributed to the Council membership by March 25, 2024. Members will be given the opportunity to select three (3) themes from all the themes submitted for final consideration of the 2024 theme. The deadline for this phase is April 8, 2024.
Phase Three (3): On April 12, 2024 the final email will be sent to the NCHEPM membership, with the top three (3) themes selected by the membership. Members will be asked to prioritize their three (3) choices and submit their final ballot by April 22, 2024.
The theme with the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month Theme at the April 24, 2024 NCHEPM meeting.
2023 National Hispanic Heritage Month Poster
by Boris A. Jiron, Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2023 National Hispanic Heritage Month Theme
“Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One”
2022 National Hispanic Heritage Month Poster by Irene Matos Chan, Senior Information Technology Manager, Castle Square Tenants Organization
“Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”