Food and music take center stage during Hispanic Heritage Month

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — National Hispanic Heritage Month is an anomaly when it comes to heritage celebrations. 

It starts on Sept. 15 each year instead of Sept. 1.

History helped determine that date.

Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, all celebrate their independence from Spain on Sept. 15. Mexico celebrates on Sept. 16.

Over the next month, festivals across the country will showcase some of the influence and contribution the Hispanic culture has had on the United States. But it’s also a month to celebrate freedom.

“History is very complex of these countries. You had indigenous peoples who were basically colonized, conquered by Spain,” said Veronica Isabel Dahlberg, founder of Hola, Ohio — an organization that advocates for farm workers, immigrants and Latino families.

She said the countries share a common thread, including culture, history and the language.

Despite colonization, the culture endured for thousands of years, according to Dahlberg.

“I would start with the corn tortilla. Corn, which was domesticated in Mexico from some grasses. By creating this corn, that then was harvested and used for a tortilla starting 10,000 years ago,” said Dahlberg. 

Cities across the country will ring in the month with traditional music, dance and food.

“We’re celebrating a taco festival in Ohio. I mean, that’s proof right there of the enduring and the resilient part of our culture,” Dahlberg said.