Let’s be honest, National Hispanic Heritage Month is something that Latinos celebrate every month. It’s not like we’re more Hispanic/Latino from September 15 to October 15 than we are the rest of the year. Still, it’s nice that the US government set aside a whole month to celebrate “the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America” because our contributions are still largely undervalued by so many.
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HHM is also an opportunity for us as parents to teach our children about the history of HHM and the traditions of Latinos all over the world because we are one diverse group of peoples, who far too often get lumped together. Our differences combined with our similarities are what make us such a dynamic force in this country and throughout the world. To celebrate, we present you with some cool things you can enjoy during HHM and beyond.
Learn about the history behind HHM.
Put the celebration in context for you and your children. When did the observance begin and why? What is it meant to celebrate? Why does the celebration start on September 15 and not at the beginning of the month?
Virtually visit the Teotihuacan pyramids.
I know that as parents we sometimes worry about how much time our kids spend on devices, but sometimes those devices can virtually take us to cool places like the Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico. Of course, it’s not the same as going in person, but it’s still really freakin’ awesome. Learn a bit about the pyramids and then take your whole family on a virtual tour of Teotihuacan via YouVisit.com.
You can also virtually visit Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the home of the Christ the Redeemer statue. Study up on the history of the art deco style statue that is 98 feet tall with outstretched arms that measure 92 feet. Then take a virtual tour to get a close look of Cristo Redentor.
And don’t forget about Machu Picchu.
Just one more virtual tour suggestion before I move on to other cool things to do during HHM. Definitely, check out a virtual tour of Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca ruins in Cuzco, Peru. The is incredible and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Visit an art exhibit in your area.
Museums tend to put on special exhibits during HHM honoring Latino/Hispanic artists. Check out what your local museums have on offer and take the family to as many exhibits as appeal to you.
See what your library has to offer.
Sure, they will have books by Latino writers, but they may also have some great programming available. For example, the San Francisco Public Library has all kinds of things going on. From book recommendations to “a diverse array of exciting programs for all ages, from Spanish/bilingual storytimes, to author talks, to art and cultural presentations.”
Listen to free audiobooks by Latino authors.
My family and I love listening to free audiobooks available through our library. For HHM, pick out titles by Latino authors and listen to them as a family. You can listen while you’re in the car or just sit together as a family in the evenings as the audiobook plays.
Enjoy tons of delicious Latin food.
Take a cooking class together.
My family and I learned how to make conchas together and it was so much fun. The best part was eating the results of our labor and being able to make extra to give to friends who were so impressed with our baking abilities.
Watch films featuring Hispanic/Latino talent.
It’s become pretty common for cable companies and streaming services to have a hub dedicated to titles that feature Latino talent on camera as well as behind the camera. Sit down as a family and watch some titles you’ve never seen together.
Play games!
You can play lotería, dominoes, or veo veo—basically, I Spy, but in Spanish. These games are fun and a great way to bond as a family. Oh, if you want to get some exercise in, you could also play pato, pato, ¡ganso!
Watch America Ferrera talk about her American dream.
I’ve watched this TED Talk by America Ferrera multiple times and it always gets me all choked up. She talks about how her identity is her superpower and not an obstacle. She discusses why representation is so important. "Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures," she says.
Learn dances from different countries.
If you can sign up for a Latin dance class, do it! But it’s not always that easy to convince everyone in the family to come along, so why not learn some great Latin dances at home with the help of YouTube videos and then have a dance party.
Celebrate with amazing music via Amazession on Alexa.
Have you heard of Amazesessions on Alexa? Yes, Alexa, Amazon’s personal digital assistant thingy that you talk to. Well, with Amazesessions, Alexa brings you exclusive concerts created in collaboration with Amazon Music. The concept is that all the artist who participate in Amazessions sing from a different room of a home. Think living room, dining room, kitchen, etc. For HHM, you can ask, “Alexa, abre la casa de Amazessions” and Alexa will serve up Amazesessions with great Latin/Hispanic artists. Find out more fun Hispanic Heritage Month content by asking “Alexa, qué tienes preparado para el Mes de la Herencia Hispana?”
Shop local Latino-owned businesses.
Visit and spend some money at local Latino-owned businesses. Explain to your kids how intentionally supporting these businesses whenever you can is a great way to invest in the success of our fellow Latinos.
