Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15 and runs through October 15 each year in the United States. In 2025, it begins on Monday, September 15. This timing aligns with the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which all celebrate their independence on September 15. Mexico and Chile also have their independence celebrations within this period, on September 16 and September 18, respectively. The month-long observance honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the U.S. and began as a week in 1968 before being expanded to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.