Events celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Beginning this week, Penn State units at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding virtual or distanced events in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated mid-September to mid-October. The unifying theme for this year’s observances, chosen by the University Park Hispanic Heritage Month organizing committee in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “¡A Nuestra Salud!: Health in the Latinx Community.” In September 1968, the U.S. Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, expanded in 1989 to a month-long celebration of the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

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