| Hispanic
Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15
In 1988, what previously was known as Hispanic Heritage
Week (September 10-16) became known as Hispanic Heritage Month as declared
by President Ronald Reagan. During this month, several Latin American
countries gained their independence. The word "Hispanic" is
a cultural term that encompasses several different Latin countries. Hispanics
come from various races and include bloodlines of Mayan, Aztec, Spanish,
Mexican, and many others.
September 1:
Labor Day (Canada, USA) - Dating back to the
1880s, this holiday is the result of efforts of the labor union movement.
It commemorates the
economic and social achievements of workers.
September 9:
Chong Yang (China) - A holiday dedicated to
the older generation. Chong Yang cake is prepared, and everyone is encouraged
to enjoy nature.
September 11:
Day of Remembrance or Patriot Day
- The effects of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
impacted Americans and most other nations and has caused us to focus on
the devastation terrorism has caused the world.
Meskerem - New Year (Egyptian) - During the
time of Pharaohs 4,000 years ago, the Ethiopian Coptic Church appearance
of Soothis (Dog Star) marked the signal that the Nile River would rise,
flooding the fertile
plains so that planting could begin. The end of the rainy season became
known as the New Year.
September
13:
Ramadan (Islamic) - The ninth month of the
Islamic year and the holiest month in Islam. The most prominent event
of this month is the fasting that Muslims observe. In accordance with
the fourth of the Sunni Five Pillars of Islam and one of the Shi'a Branches
of Religion, observant Muslims fast every day during the month between
dawn and sunset.
September
15:
Independence Day (Central America) - Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua gained independence
from Spain in 1821.
Keiro no hi (Japan) - A national holiday honoring
older citizens.
September
16:
Dia de la Independence (Mexico) - Celebrates
Mexico's independence from Spain on this day in 1820.
Oktoberfest (Germany) - In 1810, King Joseph
Maximillian of Bavaria first decided to celebrate his marriage with Princess
Theresa of Saxonie in royal style. Originally it was meant to be just
a simple horse race event, but the Bavarian character quickly took over
and it became a happy gathering of cheerful beer drinkers. Oktoberfest
now attracts approximately 7 million visitors each year.
September
17:
Aloha Week (Hawaii) - Begun in 1945, Aloha
Week celebrates Hawaiian traditions and costumes. It starts the third
week of September on the island of Oahu, and each island celebrates the
holiday on a different week until the end of October.
September
21:
Independence Day (Armenia) - Gained independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991.
September
22:
Chichen Itza Festival (Mexico) - On Autumn
Equinox Day, thousands gather at the Mayan Temple of Kukulkan to see
the interplay of sun and shadow as they form the impression of a long-tailed
serpent leading downward to the stone head of the serpent Kukulkan.
September
23:
*Shubun no hi (Japan) - On Autumn Equinox
Day, the Japanese honor family ancestry, visiting ancestral graves and
having family reunions. |
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(Click image to enlarge)
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Nerlyn Echevarria, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedias define the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico as a “self-governing, unincorporated territory of the
United States,” but Nerlyn Echevarria simply describes her
native land as a cultural and ethnic crossroads.
“Puerto Rico represents a cultural and
racial mix,” Echevarria says. “Taíno (Native
Indian), Spanish, African and North American culture converge
in our food, music, language, architecture, religion, lifestyles,
arts and crafts.”
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| Echevarria
is an Engineer, participating in a two-year rotational program
and currently working with the Technical Solutions Systems Protection
department in East Richmond.
The
Taíno inhabited the Caribbean island before Spanish colonists
arrived in 1493, during Christopher Columbus’ second journey
to the Americas. Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in
honor of St. John the Baptist. Later the island took the name of
Puerto Rico, Spanish for “Rich Port,” while its capital
retained the name of San Juan.
Echevarria says Puerto Ricans, who, by law, are
United States citizens, “love their country, and at the same
time accept the free association with the United States, always
emphasizing loyalty to their own culture, folklore, hospitality
and way of life.”
For example, Puerto Rico send its own contestants
in major international events, such as the Olympic Games and the
Miss Universe beauty pageant. However, Echevarria points out that
Puerto Rico’s economic system uses the U.S. dollar and that
Americans do not need a passport to travel to the island and return
to the mainland.
Spanish and English are Puerto Rico’s official
languages, but Spanish is dominant, Echevarria says. “Puerto
Rican schools teach English as a second language from first grade
through high school and college.”
During the 20th Century, Puerto Ricans began migrating
in large numbers to the United States mainland. Echevarria moved
to Richmond from Puerto Rico in January 2007 after Dominion recruited
her at a job fair at her college, the University of Puerto Rico,
Mayaguez Campus. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more people
of Puerto Rican birth or heritage now live in the United States
than in Puerto Rico itself. For example, Echevarria notes she has
relatives in New York, Boston and Chicago, but adds that her parents,
brothers and her husband’s family still live in Puerto Rico.
Echevarria says Puerto Rico’s crossroads
culture has produced “some unique musical rhythms.”
For example, Salsa emerged from Puerto Rico to become a
musical form in New York City. Bomba and Plena
are also native sounds and both rely heavily on percussion. Bomba,
of African origin, has a call and response interplay between drummer
and dancer. Plena blends elements from Puerto Ricans’
wide cultural backgrounds, including music that Taíno tribes
may have used during their ceremonies.
Some of the instruments used in traditional Puerto
Rican music originated with the Taíno people. Most noteworthy
is the güiro, a notched, holed out gourd, which was
adapted from pre-Columbian days.
Along with the language, the Spanish also brought
Roman Catholic Christianity, which became Puerto Rico’s predominant
religion. Echevarria says many of the island’s major holidays
coincide with religious celebrations.
For example, Echevarria says, “Puerto Rico’s
Christmas season is long, starting right after Thanksgiving Day
and officially lasting until Dia de Reyes, (Three Kings
Day, or Epiphany, on January 6, which commemorates the Three Kings’
visit to the Christ Child).”
“Our most predominant tradition is on January
5, the feast of Epiphany’s Eve,” Echevarria adds. “On
this night, children place water and grass under their beds for
the Three Kings’ camels, and, in return, the Three Kings bring
presents, which they leave under the bed, after the camels eat the
grass. Children wake up early on Dia de Reyes to check
out what Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar left them.” • |
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