Celebrando la herencia hispana

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A Creative Chapel Experience

In a vibrant display of cultural pride and creativity, Valeria Eshleman Robles’ Spanish 4 class organized a unique chapel to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This month, observed from September 15th to October 15th, marks the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

“El mes de herencia hispana es un mes que se celebra del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. El 15 de septiembre es el día de independencia de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, y Nicaragua. Celebramos este mes para reconocer las culturas y herencias de ciudadanos Americanos quien sus antepasados eran de un país Latinoaméricano con herencia hispana.” 

This was not just a celebration but also an educational experience aimed at dispelling common stereotypes. “Stereotypes don’t define people of Hispanic heritage,” emphasized a student speaker. “An example of a stereotype is all Latinx people speak Spanish. That isn’t the truth, as not all Latinx people speak Spanish.” The students encouraged everyone to learn more about the diversity within Hispanic heritage beyond these misconceptions.

A highlight was a taste test featuring local traditional foods from various Latin American countries. “While there are a lot of similarities because of the proximity of the countries and Spanish influences, each country is proud of their cuisine and the elements that make it unique,” explained another student. Teachers were invited to sample dishes from local restaurants and guess their countries of origin for a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture and encourage support for Latinx businesses.

Chapel also featured a playlist curated by the Spanish 4 class, with songs they listen to when they come to class. “Food is just a small part of culture,” noted a student. “Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t only celebrating people of the heritage. It also celebrates experiences, traditions, family, and culture.” The celebration doesn’t end there! Students post daily to the monitor in the hallways with inspirational Latinx influencers, leaders, and historical figures. The  Spanish 2 class visited a Mexican popsicle store and  Spanish 4 class plans to visit three food trucks as well. These field trips and activities are designed to encourage students to explore and support Latinx communities actively with their own families and have important conversations.

Chapel concluded with a call to action: “We wanted to bring in foods from places that aren’t as known to help us get a better understanding about Hispanic culture and help us celebrate heritages more accurately.” Chapel left everyone inspired to explore these places in our local community and appreciate the diverse and vibrant cultures that make up Harrisonburg, it also left everyone hungry!