Hispanic And Latino Culture Facts Anyone?Yes, there is an undeniable thirst to know and understand the Hispanic and Latino Cultures more than ever. Why is that? Simple: More and more people are aware that Hispanic and Latino cultures are here to stay due to healthy growth from different sources, and most important of all –it is transforming American culture and our way of living. Differences In Terminology - Latino, Spanish or Hispanic? I have heard many people use the terms Hispanic, Latino and Spanish culture interchangeably. There are differences, even though the term Latino is gaining acceptance as a term to refer to Hispanics in the U.S. and vice versa. Differences? The truth is that the term Latin was created as an abbreviation of Latin America. In the U.S. the term "Latino” is commonly used to describe Hispanics but many do not realize that Latino people speak a Romance language (not only Spanish) and are born in Latin America. Spanish people are only from Spain. Speaking Spanish is not enough to say you are from a Spanish culture. What about Hispanics? The Hispanic people come from the countries that Spain colonized including those far away from America like the Philippines. We derive our name from the term “Hispania” which was the old name for Spain. In the 1970’s the U.S. federal government and under the Nixon administration created the term Hispanic to lump together people who have a connection to Spanish language or a culture from Spanish-speaking countries. The key was the language not the country of origin. The word "Hispanic" was incorporated gradually and appeared in some of the 1980 Census forms. By 1990 all the forms from the U.S. census had incorporated the word "Hispanic" as an ethnicity option. What is interesting is that both terms -Latino and Hispanic fail to incorporate our indigenous roots, and our race is primarily a mix of Indian, European and black. Hispanic And Latino Cultures And Demographics Why are we surrounded by Hispanic and Latino cultures? Let’s face it, one of the most important facts is that they here to stay for a while -at least some time beyond 2050 when these demographic groups will peak according to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau. Another fact is that Latino population keeps growing from different sources. Why do they continue to grow? Simple, according to Ignacio Hernandez Jr, president of iHispanic Marketing Group this growth is due to: • Sustained immigration from Mexico and Central America. • Illegal immigrants and temporary workers who remain in the country. • Greater than before immigration from South America. • Continued growth of the U.S. born Hispanic population. To top it off, take a look at this Hispanic and Latino cultures fact: there are more children born to Hispanics in the U.S. every year than there are Hispanics immigrating to the U.S. This means there are probably lots of Hispanics and Latinos to be born. We could safely say Hispanic culture is widely spreading thanks to the incredible growth of the Latino population fueled by a desire to preserve and enjoy their heritage. Hispanic And Latino Culture Facts And Effects In American Culture The numbers show a shift in demographics—as the U.S. Census Bureau states, 43.5 million Hispanics account for almost 15% of the total population. One of the most exciting Latin culture facts is that demographic changes are also reflected in our everyday life. What do I mean by that? Just look around… If you are a producer of any kind of good or service, chances are you have in place a plan to capture and take care of the growing Hispanic and Latino segment. Your company probably has products with labels and instructions in Spanish, special customer service lines for Spanish-speaking consumers, and even extensions lines or an entire product line to satisfy this segment. As a neighbor you may have noticed the changes in your locality, and probably how mixed it has become (at least in some of the middle-class suburban neighborhoods) where you see “Latin bodegas” growing in number. Restaurants that cater to Hispanic and Latino cultures or that include some dishes based on the flavors of the Latino culture are on the rise. You probably heard of “Nuevo Latino”, a type of cuisine that provides Latin-inspired dishes. Professionals are finding it useful to learn some Spanish to cater to their new clientele. I know this for a fact; I have taught Spanish to professionals in the dental field so they can understand the needs of their Hispanic and Latino customers.
Above Latino foods sign at regular supermarket There are other examples to illustrate the influence of the Hispanic and Latino cultures in our society. It is obvious that Hispanic and Latino cultures are shaping and transforming American culture by introducing its own characteristics and traditions. Basic Traits Of The Hispanic And Latino Cultures • Family is the most important aspect of our lives. We grow very close to our immediate and extended family. The elderly play a major role in giving advice to the adults and helping raise the youngsters. We appreciate and respect them deeply. When our parents grow old, we consider them our responsibility. One of the most amazing Hispanic and Latins culture facts is the level of responsibility we feel for other family members. We help each other when we are experiencing poor health, economic trouble or simply need a hand to raise our children.
On the right "visiting my family in 2003" shows a typical family "asado". A weekend reunion where we dance, cook meats on the grill and share as a family. Believe me...many of my cousins did not fit in the picture! • Traditions are passed down from generation to generation. For example, it is very normal to have several members of the family with the same name. Naming our children after grandparents and parents is fairly common, and that is how Hispanic baby names carry tradition. Many of the traditional celebrations revolve around religion, but others don’t, like receiving the New Year and saying goodbye to the old one by “quemando el Año Viejo” which means “burning” the old year which is represented by a human size rag doll stuffed with fireworks.
Parties last a long time by American standards, most of the time more than four hours. Special occasions are an opportunity to show our intense passion for enjoying life. Hispanic culture has a wealth of carnivals and festivities to enjoy music and dance. Many of these carnivals last days and are rooted in ancient Andean mythology like the Oruro Carnival in Bolivia. Above/left is the 2006 Oruro Carnival in Bolivia • Sense of community is key for Hispanic and Latino cultures. We like to identify ourselves as members of certain groups like country of origin, a soccer team, the idols we love, etc. We are very loyal to them. We feel very proud of our heritage, and consider famous Latino people ambassadors of our culture. • Religion is a vehicle to express our faith. There is no doubt that Catholic influence on Hispanic countries is strong. Hispanics and Latinos are mainly Roman Catholic although even this is changing. The culture places a lot of faith in the saints, the Virgin Mary, and patrons of certain causes. Praying, lighting candles, and believing in God are fairly common practices.
One of the most known Hispanic and Latino cultures characteristic is that religion plays a strong influence in political and spiritual matters. This is likely because until recently in some countries of Latin America there was no separation between church and state, making the Roma Catholic religion "the official one." Above/right Easter procession in Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia. • Language in Hispanic and Latino cultures is primarily Spanish. There are variations from country to country in grammar, lexicon, and pronunciation of letters like the ll, z, and y. Therefore we have many different dialects. Keep in mind: There are Latinos who do not speak Spanish like Brazilians. They were colonized by Portugal and speak Portuguese. In the U.S. many Hispanic and Latino families speak only Spanish at home because we live with grandparents who did not assimilate to the American culture or because we want our children to speak Spanish as well as English. Language continues to be an important vehicle for keeping our heritage alive. • Social Graces. Punctuality is not our strong point. Hispanic and Latino cultures are lax about being on time. Proper attire is commonly used for going to church and all religious celebrations as well as the parties afterwards. These traditions seem to be less common in Latinos that have been in the U.S. for a while, therefore taking some cues from American culture. Hugging, kissing on the check, gesticulating with our hands, and using the proper respectful titles to address adults and the elderly are fairly common practices in Hispanic and Latino cultures. Laughing loud and playing music at high volumes during parties are also part of the culture. Do you know that visitors don’t have to announce themselves days in advance? Instead we are pleasantly surprised by an unexpected visitor. Like we always say “Mi casa es su casa” –my home is your home-, therefore you don’t need an invitation! Hispanic and Latino cultures are becoming a powerful force characterized by openness, happiness, and strong traditions that are infiltrating our daily lives. From Hispanic And Latino Culture Facts To Hispanic Culture Online
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Have you checked out the aisles in supermarkets lately? I am not only referring to ethnic supermarkets. Regular supermarkets now have an ethnic aisle, and guess what? They carry mainly Hispanic and Latino foods like frijoles, gandules, "Goya" seasonings, “pulpa” of fruit to make juices, and other items characteristic of the culture.
I still remember my sister coming to NY to help me for a month when I delivered my son. She has two children of her own and the grandparents took care of them while she was helping me here.
• Music and dance are very important elements for special occasions and everyday life! We love to get together to celebrate holidays, birthdays, baptisms, first communions, graduations, and weddings all around music and “baile” –dance. 
Easter, “cuaresma” -40 days prior to Easter, Christmas, Three Kings, visiting the seven temples during “cuaresma”, praying the “mil Jesuses” -the thousand Jesus, etc., are some examples of the religious celebrations and traditions. 