Hispanic Heritage Month
By Bisma Aftab and Natalie Ponciano
October 9, 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when people come together to celebrate the influence and accomplishments Hispanics/Latinos have made in history. Cesar Chavez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are all notable Hispanics/Latinos. It’s also a day to celebrate their independence from Spain. On September 15, 1821, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador became independent from Spain’s rule. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate independence on September 16 and 18.
According to Julio Ponciano, a Glasgow parent who was born and raised in Guatemala, “It’s a way to keep our traditions alive. Most importantly it’s a way to show our kids who were born in the US their identity and where they’re coming from. My kids have never been to Guatemala, so when they see people celebrating from where they are from, it makes them feel welcomed and a part of something.”
People from different backgrounds all come together to celebrate this wonderful month about recognizing the influence and difference Hispanics have made. An example of this is in the parade in Chicago on September 15. Mariachis joined together in song to celebrate Mexican culture.
Natalie Poncaino an 8th grader at Glasgow Middle School. She likes to listen to music in her free time. She enjoys taking long drives with her family. Her mom was born in Chile and her dad was born in Guatemala. Natalie was born and raised in Alexandria, VA. She has 3 sisters and one brother. She is the youngest of the family.
Bisma Aftab is an 8th Grade Glasgow Middle School student. She was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She enjoys drawing, writing, reading, animating, listening to music, and playing games. One of her favorite games is Twister. A few fun facts about her is she has 2 birthmarks on her face, and she pierced her nose.
