As Hispanic Heritage Month winds to an end, many observers are wondering why we celebrate Hispanic Heritage from September 15 to October 15. So, why do we take part of two months rather than take the entire month of September or October?

While some conspiracy theorists believe the dates were selected to avoid bumping into the traditional holidays of Labor Day and Halloween, the dates were really selected for their importance in Hispanic history. With Mexico declaring its independence on September 16, and Chili on September 18, people from around the United States recognize the15th of September as the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The anniversary of independence for five other Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all fall on or around September 15. For that reason, Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15.

There are more than 37 million people of Hispanic origin or about ten percent of the United States population; undocumented immigrants may make their population much larger. Projections show that from 1990-2010, the Latino population of California, for instance, will double.

This month Americans are celebrating the many contributions of Hispanic citizens. One of most popular Hispanic heroes is Cesar Chavez. Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association to obtain better wages and working conditions for grape pickers and other farm workers. In 1965, the NFWA organized a boycott of California grape growers. By 1970, most grape growers signed contracts with the unions.

Chavez continued to organize California farm workers through the 1970s. Although the ancestors of Hispanics were among the first Europeans to reach North America, it was not until the Mexican-American War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which gave the U.S. official ownership of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming that the great majority of Mexicans living in California were granted U.S. citizenship.

Other well known Hispanics include former baseball great, Roberto Clemente, and entertainment super star, Jennifer Lopez.