National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of the people of Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Here are some ideas you could use to enhance your celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month or start a new tradition:

Art  

  • Browse the virtual gallery tours of the National Museum of Mexican Art or visit the gallery in person at 1852 W 19th Street, Chicago. The museum is open with free admission, and its gift shop offers eclectic and beautiful hand-crafted artwork to complement your home or office.  
  • Join or give to The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC), whose grant-making efforts are currently focused on providing emergency relief for Latino artists enduring the continued impact of COVID-19. Membership is open to all, including individuals and businesses interested in advocating for Latino arts and culture.  
  • Internationally, The Museo Del Prado is home to a breathtaking collection of artwork by Spanish artists El Greco, Rubens, Goya, Titan, and others. Explore the collections and exhibitions with online with descriptions in English or Spanish. 
  • Learn more about Hispanic artists such as Diego Rivera, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo, whose lives and works have been celebrated through many books and films.  

Fashion 

  • Indulge your inner fashionista by surveying the wealth of clothing, footwear, handbags, and lifestyle brands produced by Latin artisans. Collectiva fashions are created by indigenous artisans in Mexico. Zara is a popular Spanish fashion line sold by major U.S. retailers. 

Food 

  • Enjoy the wide variety of traditional Mexican, Spanish, Puerto Rican, or other Hispanic foods at a restaurant or from an online recipe.  

Festivals 

  • Check your local community calendar for events related to National Hispanic Heritage Month or make plans to attend a future celebration related to Latin culture, such as Cinco de Mayo, La Posadas or Day of the Dead. 

Film and theater 

  • Stream interesting films on the PBS Hispanic Heritage Month webpage such as the biopic Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, documentaries Building the American Dream and The Song of the Butterflies, and short films Joy Ride and Latinos are Essential. Other platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ have compiled playlists highlighting the talent, creators and stories of the diverse Hispanic Latinx community. 
  • Check out the six-part documentary series, The Latino Americans, which covers more than 500 years of history and experience. This series is also hosted on PBS’s Hispanic Heritage Month webpage. 
  • Create your own mini-film festival featuring the work of Hispanic and Latinx artists. 
  • Watch films that feature Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican dancer, singer and actor whose work has earned her Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.  
  • Screen one of the award-winning films of Mexican screenwriter, director and producer Guillermo Del Toro, which include Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. 
  • Embrace your cultural side by watching the 2020 film of the hit musical Hamilton, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was born to parents of Puerto Rican origin. 

History and nonfiction  

  • Curl up with an absorbing biography, autobiography or historical nonfiction book about Hispanic and Latinx individuals who have made contributions to American life or played an important role in American history or in the Latin community. 
  • Learn about more Sonia Sotomayer, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent who became the first Hispanic American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court from reading her autobiography. 
  • Explore the influence of Cesar Chavez a Mexican-American who founded the United Farm Workers Union to support safe and equitable working conditions for farm workers and discourage the use of pesticides through biographies such as “The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography, by Miriam Pawel. 
  • Learn about Spanish explorers such as Juan Ponce de Leon and Vasco Nunez de Balboa and Hernan Cortes. 
  • Discover the deep roots of Hispanic American History stretching back to the American Revolution by learning about Juan de Miralles Trilhon and General Bernardo de Galvez, whose efforts and assistance during the Revolutionary War earned the George Washington’s praise. 

 Host an event  

  • Host a movie night, listening party, dinner, book club night, or other social event and involve your friends and family. 

Literature  

  • Encourage your book club to add a books by Latinx authors to the schedule, such as classics like Love in the Time of Cholera or 100 Years of Solitude by Columbian author and Nobel-Prize-winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Don Quixote by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, The Alchemist by Brazilian writer Paulo Coehlo, or The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. 
  • If you have small children, introduce them to books from Scholastic’s list of recommended books to celebrate Hispanic and Latin Heritage. 

 Music 

  • Explore the playlists assembled in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month in your favorite music app. Music created and performed by Hispanic artists spans virtually every genre, from composers such as Carlos Santana and Tito Puente, to singers such as Andrea Bocelli and Julio Iglesias, to pop stars such as Selena, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony. 

Volunteerism and charitable contributions 

  • Contribute to nonprofits and charities that benefit the Latinx community. You could encourage your office to support a local advocacy or charitable group, or volunteer to help with a project. 
  • Larger cities may have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to connect you with local business and entrepreneurs. 
  • Arrange a fundraiser to support programs that address racial justice and equity in education, legal access or voting rights.