Hispanic/Latin Heritage Month for Some District Schools

In the month of April, Toronto District Schools recognizes Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month. The board of trustees voted in March 2010 that April would be the designated month to celebrate Hispanic and Latino Heritage at the Toronto District School Board. This month, it’s important to recognize Hispanic/Latino culture, leaders, and history within Canada.

Celebrating Hispanic Culture

Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month allows us to learn more about our Hispanic/Latino brothers and sisters. Many rich cultures fall under the umbrella of Hispanic and Latin peoples. There are so many cultures to learn from, recognize, and acknowledge. Here, we name a few below, along with dishes and music that are distinguishable to each.

Colombia

Colombia is a country in South America whose people are lively and wonderful. Some cultural items of note that they are known for are:

Food: Colombians very proudly will tell you about and make you Arepas. Arepas are stuffed cornmeal cakes that are crispy outside but fluffy inside. The filling varies from region to region but can include meat, eggs, beans, pumpkin, cheese, and other ingredients.

Music: You will hear cumbias and vallenatos filling the streets of Colombia during any celebration or event, recognizing the country’s culture and people. Vallenatos come from Caribbean influences.

Learn about Colombian-Canadian Relations here.

Mexico

Mexico is our Hispanic sister in North America, south of the United States. It is a country influenced by the Spanish, Aztecs, Mayans, and the United States, truly an amalgamation of cultures.

Food: A few dishes Mexico is known for include Pozole, tacos, and Cochinita Pibil. Depending on where in Mexico you find yourself, you will encounter different regional meals and ways of making food as it is a large and expansive country.??

Music: The music of Mexico includes norte?o, mariachi, and jarocho. Because the country is so big, national music is broken down into northern, central, and southern region groups and subgroups.

Learn about Mexican-Canadian Relations here.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America! In Brazil, they don’t speak Spanish as they do in most of the continent but rather Portuguese.

Food: Feijoada, a Brazilian black bean stew, is one of their most famous dishes, comfort food to all. Another dish you may have heard of is Carne-de-Sol, or sundried meat, which is native to northeastern Brazil and consists of heavily salted beef.

Music: If you’ve heard Brazilian music during carnival, you have been exposed to the beautiful sounds of Maracatu, which has Afrobrazilian roots.

Learn about Canada-Brazil Relations here.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic (DR) is an island in the Caribbean, while small, incredibly rich in culture, and full of beautiful places to visit.

Food: La Bandera is considered the national dish of DR. This dish consists of white rice, chicken or beef, and red beans and is often accompanied by tostones or green salad.

Music: If you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to music from DR, you probably were enjoying the national music known as Merengue, but you may also have heard Bachata or Palo.

Learn about Canada-Dominican Republic Relations here.