Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino communities, which includes people with heritage from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It is celebrated from September 15 through October 15.

The history of Hispanic Heritage Month traces back to 1968, where it began as a smaller celebration known as Hispanic Heritage Week. It became a month-long celebration after being signed into law by President Reagan in 1988. September 15 was chosen as the start of Hispanic Heritage Month as a tribute to the anniversary of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua’s Declaration of Independence from Spain. 

Today, Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us of how much strength we draw as a country from our roots and values as a nation of immigrants. Hispanic and Latinx individuals now make up approximately 19% of our country’s total population, impacting every facet of American culture.

St. John the Baptist Parish Library has planned several programs in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month:

• Mexican Folk Art- Make an Aztec Sunburst

Ages 0-5: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by creating your own Aztec sunburst art.

All Library Branches: October 1-5

• DIY Day of the Dead Calavera Grab & Geaux Kits

Teens & Tweens: In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, teens and tweens are invited to visit the Reserve Branch from October 7-12 and pick up a grab & geaux kit to design and paint a colorful Calavera, decorative skulls used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls’ Day.

Reserve Branch: October 7-12

• DIY Decorate Your Own Guitar

Ages 6-11: Decorate your own guitar using vibrant colors to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month The guitar is perhaps the most iconic instrument in Mexican music. 

Edgard: Monday, October 7 at 4:30 PM

Reserve: Tuesday, October 8 at 4:30 PM

Garyville: Wednesday, October 9 at 4:30 PM

LaPlace: Thursday, October 10 at 4:30 PM

• Decorate Talavera Tiles

Tweens: In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, teens and tweens can design and paint a custom Talavera Tile coaster. Talavera Tiles are decorative tiles often found in intricate white with blue designs.

Garyville: Sept. 30 & Oct. 2 from 4-6 PM

LaPlace: October 1 & 3 from 4-6 PM

Edgard: Sept. 30 & Oct. 2 from 4-6 PM

Reserve: October 1 & 3 from 4-6 PM

Check out these six must-read Hispanic Heritage Month books on Libby:

• “Monstrilio by Gerardo” Sámano Córdova – After the death of their young son, a grieving family makes a desperate choice that leads them into a strange adventure.
• “With the Fire on High” by Elizabeth Acevedo – This novel follows Emoni Santiago, a young Afro-Latina teen balancing high school, motherhood, and her dreams of becoming a chef.
• “Monstrilio” by Gerardo Sámano Córdova – Told in a series of interviews with a social worker during the Great Recession, this novel follows Cara Romero, a Dominican immigrant.
• “Solito” by Javier Zamora – In this heartwrenching memoir, Javier Zamora, a nine-year-old boy, makes the dangerous trek from El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents.
• “In The Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado – Carmen Maria Machado’s In The Dream House is a brilliant memoir that uses unique narrative techniques to explore abusive relationships.
• “The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina” by Zoraida Córdova – When the Montoya family receives a mysterious letter to their grandmother Orquídea Divina’s funeral, they expect to inherit her fortune. Instead, they find magic and mystery.

Look for Hispanic Heritage Month e-book collections on Hoopla and Tumblebooks. Spanish-speakers can also take advantage of Odilo, a library resource that offers more than 800,000 e-books and 73,000 audiobooks in Spanish.