Mallory Rogers

Hispanic Culture

Being Mexican-American today is easy for me.  With a last name like Rogers, you don’t get much flak anyway.  But even though I’m proud to say I’m a Mexican-American, I don’t necessarily practice what I preach.  As a result, I have chosen as my research report to look into the Hispanic culture’s celebrations and rituals.  What I found is a wide range of rituals and celebrations that span over one’s entire lifetime- from birth, to death.

The term Hispanic refers to “Spanish-speaking people of any race in the United States.”  As of the 2005 census, there were more than thirty five million people supporting this category. (Fact)  As a result, there is a demand for celebratory events and rituals throughout the year.  Most importantly though is the month starting on September 15 and ending on October 14.  This marks the beginning of the Hispanic Heritage month nationwide.  The date September 15 is chosen because this is the anniversary of independence for five major Latin American countries. (Fact)  This event is nation-wide and usually cities hold their own celebrations.  For Houston, they hold their annual Hispanic celebration parade on September 16.  (City)  During the festival Hispanic art, clothing, food, religion, and even authors are celebrated.

While there is an entire month dedicated to Hispanic Heritage, those living within the culture celebrate year round, regardless.  For girls and boys coming of age at fifteen, parents regularly celebrate through a ritual called a “quinceanera”.  Preparations for this event usually begin at least a year in advance.   The princess (or prince) for the day wears a dress similar to that of a wedding gown, while a boy would wear a traditional wedding tuxedo.  At a church, the special inductee will renew their baptismal vows.  Following this, the priest will announce their adulthood to the church and a grand celebration follows.  During the celebration, there is a coordinated dance and usually an elaborate menu of Hispanic cuisine. (Hoyt)

In addition to the celebration of becoming an adult, Hispanics also celebrate the day of the death of loved ones on October 31 each year.  This is the day the spirits are believed to arrive to speak to their families and they depart on November 2.  This is also referred to as Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead.  Instead of fearing death, many Hispanics instead embrace it.  They decorate the streets with colorful flowers, burn incense, bake goodies, and eat decadently. (Lowry) Death is not morbid in the Hispanic culture like it is usually seen in others.  Even children play with toys that resemble coffins and tombstones. 

Though these are only a mere few rituals of the Hispanic culture they seem to be the most predominant and celebrated by the majorities.  I think that if you had to put the Hispanic Americans into a group that we discussed during this Immigrant class, I would say that Hispanics are a more national immigration rather than traditional.  These rituals and celebrations set apart the Hispanic culture and while Anglo-Saxons do not celebrate in the same ways, the Hispanic culture has lived on.  Thus, instead of assimilating into the dominant culture of a somber funeral at death and keys to a new car at fifteen to prove adulthood the Hispanics have their own unique way of celebrating and letting go, too. 

Works Cited

1.                  Fact Monster. 2000-2007. Pearson Education. December 1, 2007.

[http://www.factmonster.com/spot/hhm1.html]

2.                  City Guides. 2007. AOL. December 1, 2007

[http://search.cityguide.aol.com/houston/entertainment/fiestas-patrias-parade-and-festival/e-1653413]

3.                  Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane.  Celebrating a Quincenera: a Latina’s Fifteenth Birthday Celebration. New York: Holiday House, 2002.

4.                  Lowery, Linda.  Day of the Dead.  Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, 2004.