New Ways to Celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month!
- 09/24/2025
- 17:35
- maureen
As we move into fall, it’s time to honor Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in 1968, and twenty years later, it was expanded to a month (September 15 to October 15) because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days during this timeframe, and the dates do not cover one single month. For example, on September 15, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all begin to celebrate their independence on this date. Then, on September 16 and 18, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days.
Why include the word Latinx?
The term Latinx is a gender-neutral term considered to be an inclusive alternative to Latino/Latina. So, to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone, many organizations have adopted the practice of using this term.
Seymour Library invites you to join the celebration and to learn more about the Hispanic and Latinx cultures by checking out a book from our shelves!
Take a Reading Journey with your Library Card
Don’t know where to start? Read below for some great ways to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx heritage:
My Name is Emilia Del Valle by Isabel Allende
In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman. As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie.
When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa
On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Baez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn’t approve of. Now, ten years later, Javi has a problem. Mari, the woman he’s secretly pined for since sophomore year, is engaged, and Javi didn’t even get the chance to vet the Pedro Pascal knockoff she plans to marry. Mari’s changed the script and moved on without him. Now Javi has just eight weeks to convince Mari this marriage is a flop—even if that means he needs to ruffle some feathers to help Mari avert a disaster. After all, isn’t that what best friends are for?
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
When celebrated writer Alma Cruz inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, she turns it into a place to bury her untold stories–literally. She creates a graveyard for manuscript drafts and revisions and the characters whose lives she tried and failed to bring to life and who still haunt her. Alma wants her characters to rest in peace, but they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives.
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Harvard student Catalina Ituralde, who escaped death in Latin America, confronts her mysterious past and uncertain future as she approaches graduation, all while navigating the complexities of love and freedom.
Anita deMonte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a mesmerizing novel about a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious death. Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
A Mexican bandido sets off for Texas to save his family, only to encounter a mysterious figure who has come, finally, to collect a cosmic debt generations in the making.
More ways to celebrate
Kanopy
Celebrate with Kanopy’s film collection, showcasing the richness and diversity of Hispanic stories and cultures. This thoughtfully curated selection of films spans powerful documentaries, award-winning features, and compelling narratives that highlight the diversity of Hispanic heritage across the globe.
Explore the full collection here
Hoopla
Explore hoopla’s collection and dive into the diversity of Hispanic culture and traditions. From compelling novels by Hispanic authors to lively Latin music, immerse yourself in the traditions, stories, and rhythms that define Hispanic heritage. Hoopla offers access to a vast collection of books, videos, and music, all free!
Mango Languages
Try the Mango Languages Latin American Spanish course to learn more about the language and culture of Latin America!
Haven’t tried Mango Languages? Seymour Library provides this resource for FREE to anyone with a library card! Get started today! Language is an adventure!
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Please note that Hoopla and Kanopy are reserved for In-District Seymour Library Card Holders who are in good standing. Do you live within a different library district? Please contact your local library and recommend that they include these options for cardholders within their district.