Hispanic Heritage Month: The Hispanic Community in Santa Maria share what their culture means to them

Downtown Fridays - Santa Maria

Santa Maria residents gathered at Downtown Fridays, enjoying food trucks, dancing to live music, talking with community members, and supporting local vendors. The energy in the air was electric due to the ongoing celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Halfway through the month, many Hispanic community members encourage others to continue learning about Latino and Hispanic cultures and histories year-round.

However, some Santa Maria residents didn’t know that Hispanic Heritage Month lasts 30 days, as the countries that gained independence from Spain typically celebrate for just a day or two. Joaquin Flores, owner of Santa Maria Mix Sabor Food Truck, is one of the city’s newest residents; he has lived on the Central Coast for four years and was unaware of the month-long celebration. Flores is accustomed to Mexico’s two-day celebration, which features parades, music, and food. Although he has been in Santa Maria for a few years, Flores has only attended the car show on Sept. 15. Continuing the conversation around Hispanic Heritage Month within the community helps everyone stay informed and encourages more discussion about the culture.

Local Vendor at Downtown Fridays

Central American countries El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala celebrate their independence on Sept. 15, while Mexico celebrates from Sept. 15 to 16, Chile celebrates on Sept. 18, and Belize celebrates on Sept. 21. Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration when it was first observed in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month. It’s a time to recognize the hardworking Latinos and Latinas who have helped build and strengthen the nation and continue to do so by fostering a welcoming community.

Norma Alonso, a Santa Maria community member and promotora, supports her Hispanic community members by informing them about various resources available for education, mental health support, and healthy food access. Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Alonso and her seven children have lived in Santa Maria for 33 years. She claims her favorite part of Hispanic culture is the food; enchiladas and pozole are her favorite dishes. However, the most vital component of Hispanic culture is the continuation of traditions and celebrations. She states, “Celebrando enseña a los hijos las tradiciones. Deberemos celebrar la cultura todo el tiempo y no solo un mes para que no se pierda la cultura.”

Dafne Ruiz's booth

While many Santa Maria residents take pride in their culture and community, others feel out of place. Forty-year-old small businesswoman Dafne Ruiz moved from Norwalk to Santa Maria seven years ago and hasn’t found the right place to call home. While she enjoys the calmer environment and reduced traffic, she hopes to move back to Mexico one day, as it’s the only place that feels like home. Ruiz explains, “Being a DACA recipient, my hope is for us to have different legislation so that I can visit my home country as much as I like without worrying about not being able to return to the United States. There’s more work here, but finding a home is hard, and I want to be at peace. I would be happier if I could live in Mexico but come back and work here.” She reminisces about her favorite memories as a 6-year-old in el Estado de México, from birthday parties to seeing her grandmother. When celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Ruiz claims she celebrates every day, even on Thanksgiving, by cooking all her favorite Mexican dishes, starting with her favorite breakfast dish: chilaquiles.

Whether you’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month or are a friend of someone in the Latino community, engaging in conversations with Latino members helps support them and raises awareness of their culture. There’s so much to learn about others' backgrounds and the history behind Hispanic Heritage Month. Keep the discussions going even after the month ends. Being Latino or Hispanic is something to celebrate every day.