Hispanic Heritage Month in St. George

Sept. 15 is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and St. George’s second largest population is Latinx or mixed race. 

The World Population Review breaks down the numbers and also shows that as far as languages go, Spanish is the second most common language in the city after English.  

So, why celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? 

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate your neighbors (or your own family) but simply learning about another culture can be eye-opening. Plus, it’s a common fact that St. George loves its Mexican food so why not learn more about where and who it comes from? 

The U.S. Department of Education had this to say about the month.  

“Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” 

For 2023, the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities.  

Here are some dates to be aware of that the DOE is making focused for certain areas. 

• Week of September 19th: Jobs and the Economy   
• Week of September 26th: Climate    
• Week of October 3rd: Education and Investing in HSIs    
• Week of October 10th: Mental Health and Wellness   
• October 15: Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month