Across the world, Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated through various traditions, festivals, parades, and what people enjoy most—food. As the month that honors several cultures comes to an end, it raises numerous questions about the history of this month-long celebration and the even greater question: What has the Bellingham community done to elevate the month?
Annually, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, with its origins dating back to 1968. The celebration began as a week of appreciation to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States under President Lyndon Johnson, but it was transformed two decades later. In 1988, the week-long celebration was extended to a month with the approval of Public Law 100-402, signed by President Ronald Reagan. Since then, yearly traditions such as concerts, festivals, exhibits, and parades have been observed across the United States to honor this celebration. Bellingham High School is no exception, with Spanish teachers and students ensuring they mark their calendars for this month of celebration.
When asked the question, “How do you try to incorporate Hispanic Heritage Month into your curriculum?” Spanish teacher Señora Hodge was happy to respond. She mentioned that in her class, she shows a video of the Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence) that occurs in Mexico City on the night of September 15th. In recent years, Señora Hodge has emphasized the significance of the line “Mexicanas… Mexicanos!” and the uproar that followed it. The video she shows demonstrates the tradition of ringing the bell that resides in the National Palace, replicating the scene when Miguel Hidalgo rang the same bell to declare Mexico’s independence from the Spanish crown in 1810. Loaded with meaning and history, Señora Hodge’s choices never fail to educate the Bellingham community about the Hispanic community.
However, showing the Grito de Independencia isn’t the only way Señora Hodge honors Hispanic Heritage Month. She also mentions that she shows the 2015 film “McFarland, USA” to represent the lives of many Latino Americans. The film is often shown to second-year Spanish students in her class, with a handful of students expressing their appreciation for it outside of class. Even as Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, Señora Hodge notes that she has more in store regarding Mexican culture due to significant recent events in the country.
During cultural celebrations, Bellingham High School’s dedication to the Bellingham Promise and honoring cultural diversity is most apparent. Students and administrators together have created a greater capacity to learn about other cultures, from small history lessons by Señora Hodge to school-wide events like Latino Night. Although Latino Night falls outside the dates of Hispanic Heritage Month, it demonstrates to the students of Bellingham that conversations about culture and traditions should not be confined to just one month. In the coming weeks, more details about Latino Night will be shared, but the date is set! The event will be held on November 8th at 5 P.M., open to students and families from the Bellingham School District.
As questions about what the Bellingham community does to honor Hispanic Heritage Month are answered, more questions arise surrounding Latino Night. Students will just have to wait and see what ASB President Coral Carrillo has planned for the upcoming event!
