The Postal Service recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration held each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Roughly 13 percent of USPS employees report Hispanic ancestry.
While it may seem unusual to have a monthly observance start in the middle of one month and end in the middle of the next, it turns out that mid-September is a meaningful time throughout much of Latin America.
Sept. 15 marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
Toward the tail end on Oct. 12 is Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Races, a holiday that simultaneously acknowledges the hardships brought by colonization and celebrates the multicultural, multiethnic society that evolved as a result.
The Postal Service has honored Hispanic peoples and cultures with many stamps throughout the years, most recently with Mariachi, a celebration of the Mexican musical tradition, and Day of the Dead, a colorful issue marking Dia de los Muertos, the Nov. 1 holiday that combines Indigenous and Roman Catholic elements.
The theme for this year’s celebration, chosen by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers, is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
The National Hispanic Heritage Month website has more information.