Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us! Observed each year between September 15 and October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the diverse cultures and traditions of the Hispanic world!
Join Macaroni KID North Little Rock + Little Rock Metro as we dive headfirst into a month full of joyful celebrations, small business spotlights, and more!
Want to stump friends and family at trivia night? Here are some fun facts about Hispanic heritage you can share.
What does it mean to be Hispanic?
Short answer: It means having a relationship to Spain or the Spanish language.
So whether it's food, language, or country, all roads lead to Spain. Yes, it's colonization and migration. But it's also the mezcla, the blending of cultures that created the vibrant world of Hispanic culture we celebrate today!
So, are Latinos Hispanic, too?
Short answer: It depends on the country. Latino is both a cultural identity and a geographical designation. Latinos are from Latin America. So Brasileños, people from Brazil, are Latinos but not Hispanic because they speak Portuguese, not Spanish. Here's a great visual resource.
Long answer: This one is for hard-core trivia nerds. Latin America refers to the parts of the Americas where the primary languages are Romance languages derived from Latin (Spanish, Portuguese, and French). So someone from Mexico, Argentina, or Panama can be considered Latino and Hispanic, right? Now you've got it!
And by the way, Españoles, people from Spain, generally do not consider themselves Hispanic, even though they speak Spanish. Which brings us to...
Ethnicity and Cultural Identity
There is no one-size-fits-all cultural identity for Hispanics any more than there is one for Americans. With over 550 different ethnic groups, 12 major Spanish dialects, and hundreds of Indigenous languages in Latin America alone, there are plenty of rabbit holes to dive into.
How can I learn more?
Heritage Month is the perfect time to learn about the food, culture, and languages of our diverse Hispanic friends here in North Little Rock and the Little Rock Metro! There are more than 30 Hispanic countries in the Americas and the Caribbean, and many of them are proudly represented here in Arkansas!
🪇 Celebremos Juntos ~ Let's Celebrate Together 🪇
Fiesta de Independencia Hispana at Plaza Frida, Sat., Sept. 13 4-10 pm
El Grito de Dolores is celebrated on the eve of Mexican Independence Day throughout Mexico and at Mexican Consulate events worldwide. El Grito Mexicano was the rallying cry at the start of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810 in the Mexican town of Dolores, given by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest. It is a unique celebration symbolizing the hope and possibility of independence.
Día de la Independencia
- 15 de septiembre: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Nicaragua
- 16 de septiembre: México
- 18 de septiembre: Chile
Hispanic Heritage Festival w/ Plaza Frida at River Market - Sat, Sept. 27, 5-8 pm
Fiesta en SoMa - Friday, October 3, 4-10 pm
Small Business Spotlight ~ Tortas Mexico en NLR
Enjoy a special dish at Tortas Mexico in North Little Rock on Monday, Sept. 15th.
Chiles en Nogada is a famous national dish of Mexico featuring green poblano peppers stuffed with minced meat and topped with a beautiful white, walnut sauce and bright red pomegranate seeds, signifying the colors of La Bandera Mexicana!
We recommend calling ahead to check availability. Tortas Mexico is open 9 am-9 pm at 1000 W. 37th St. in Levy and can be reached at 501-771-1341.
