Hispanic Heritage Month Culture Highlight: Erika Margonari

Hi, my name is Erika. National Hispanic Heritage Month begins in the United States each year on Sep. 15 - Oct. 15 to celebrate U.S. Latinos, our culture, and our history. Started in 1968. The U.S. government formally designated the month to spotlight the contributions made by "American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America," according to the Official government website.

I am second generation Hispanic, I grew up in Guadalajara Metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara has earned its reputation as a cultural capital not only by giving birth to Mexican cultural icons like Tequila, mariachi music, sombreros, and charrería (rodeos) but also by fostering a spirit that honors its cultural legacies.

Guadalajara has a humid subtropical climate; it is a green city with old buildings and architectural traditions.

One of my favorite Holidays as a kid was Las Posadas (The Inns), a Traditional Mexican Christmas practice, recreating the passage of Joseph and Mary through Bethlehem, asking for shelter and being refused. Generally, this is a celebration for family and friends nowadays, but if you know a Mexican, it's a great way to experience firsthand Mexican culture. Regular appearances include Pi?atas, Mariachi bands, Mexican beer, Tequila, and much merriment.

Guadalajara is Mexico's leading producer of software and digital components, and nearly a quarter of all the country's exports in electronics are manufactured in the city.

I love visiting friends and family and always take extra time to try Guadalajara culinary specialties, which include Birria (a spicy Mexican meat stew made with either goat or lamb, cooked slowly with spices and served with minced onions, cilantro and limes); pozole (a corn hominy soup made with either pork or chicken); fish ceviche (made from whatever is fresh that day, marinated in lime juice and served with tostadas (fried tortillas); and chilaquiles (a Mexican breakfast of eggs, home cooked beans, chicken,? white, crumbling, slightly salty cheese and tortillas).

-Erika Margonari