With the end of Hispanic Heritage Month this week, here are a plethora of factoids recognizing Hispanic culture and OLLU pride!
• Hispanic Heritage was celebrated for only a week. It was established in 1968 by then President Lyndon B. Johnson as a weeklong celebration. OLLU Alum Gil Coronado changed that in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full 30-day period.
• What did Hispanics influence?
o Cowboys and Rodeos: Many iconic American cowboy traditions actually originated in Spain and Mexico – including cowboy hats and the rodeo itself! Remember that when the Rodeo comes to San Antonio in February of 2027.
o State names: Although their pronunciation has changed, many U.S. state names are from the Spanish language. Colorado was named for its red color; Montana was named for its mountainous landscape; Nevada for its snow-covered territory; Florida for its flowery vegetation.
o Florida’s recorded history starts in 1513 when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León arrived in the Easter season and referred to the region as “La Pascua Florida,” (meaning the ‘flowery Easter”)
o The Sandia Mountains in New Mexico were given that name for their color during a sunset. ‘Sandia’ means watermelon in Spanish.
o A Food Takeover: More than 30 years ago, salsa officially overtook ketchup as the top-selling, most popular condiment in the United States.
o Guacamole, or “Guac,” is a word from the Nahuatl term “āhuacamōlli,” which means avocado sauce. ‘Ahuacatl’ meaning avocado, and ‘molli’ meaning sauce. Guacamole is quickly becoming a must-have appetizer.
o The origin of Barbecue comes from the Spanish word, “barbacoa,” which was adopted from Caribbean origins. However, while it’s not a historical fact, San Antonio was the first to offer Barbacoa and Big Red!
o Caesar Salad is not a tribute to a Roman Caesar; it was actually invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920’s
o “Chocolate” comes from the Nahuatl word “chocolātl spoken by Aztecs. They drank chocolate as a bitter, spiced beverage long before it became the sweet chocolate we know today. The cacao beans, where chocolate comes from, were so valuable that Aztecs used them as currency as well as for food.
o Vanilla originated in Mexico and was first cultivated by the Totonac people centuries before it became a global flavoring. So, now, whether you choose chocolate or vanilla, you’ll be choosing a bit of Hispanic culture.
o Maybe by next year, we’ll be proud to report that breakfast tacos have replaced breakfast cereals!