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Latino/a and Hispanic Culture in the U.S.
The terms Hispanic and Latino/a are often used interchangeably. They actually have different meanings that are often the subject of debate. It is generally accepted that Hispanic refers to people with a Spanish-speaking background. Latino, on the other hand, refers to those from the geographic region of Latin America. This includes much of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Although there is much overlap between the two terms, those from countries like Brazil (with its 200 million Portuguese speakers) may identify as latino, but not Hispanic. In recent years, the word latinx has gained traction as a gender-neutral alternative to latino/a.
According to the Pew Research Center, Hispanic Americans and Latino Americans make up more than 18% of the U.S. population. Over 57 million Hispanics and Latinos living in the U.S. In fact, the United States has a larger Spanish-speaking population than many Hispanic countries, including Peru and Venezuela.
More than half of the U.S. Hispanic and Latino population resides in California, Texas, and Florida. California has the largest population of Hispanic and Latino Americans with over 14 million. Texas and Florida have a Hispanic and Latino American population of about 10 million and 4 million respectively. New York also has a large population of Hispanic and Latino Americans with over 3 million. These states, as well as many other cities in the U.S., have a very vibrant Hispanic and Latino American community.
And, of course, we can't forget about the 3 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico, which is a freely associated state (FAS) of the USA.
Cultural Influence
Hispanic and Latin Americans come from diverse social, economic, and geographic backgrounds. They can be very different depending on their family heritage and national origin. However, there are some cultural similarities that tend to bring these diverse backgrounds together.
One of the most common cultural characteristics of Hispanic American culture is the Spanish language. In 1980, there were roughly 11 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. This represented 5% of the population according to the Pew Research Center. By 2012 the number of Spanish speakers increased to over 38 million, representing 13% of the U.S. population. Hispanic families often teach their children Spanish as a way of passing down their heritage and culture. This emphasis on being bilingual has helped revive the Spanish language in the U.S.
Pope Francis is the first Latin American to head the Roman Catholic Church.
Image by Edgar Jiménez
Religion plays an important role in Hispanic and Latin American culture. Hispanic and Latin Americans represent a highly Christian group. Although Americans in general have gained an increasingly secular view of society in the past few decades, a study conducted by the Hispanic Churches in American Public Life (HCAPL) reports that the majority of Hispanic and Latin Americans identify as Catholic or Protestant.
The hearty bandeja paisa can commonly be found in areas with large Colombian populations.
Image by Dtarazona
Hispanic and Latin American cuisines are very popular in the U.S. and have had a significant influence on American cuisine and eating habits.
Most notably, Mexican food (and it's Americanized cousin, Tex-Mex) have long been culinary staples in American society. Some of the typical items in Mexican cuisine include corn-based dishes such as tortillas, tamales, and tacos and various salsas and condiments such as guacamole, pico de gallo, and mole. Tortilla chips and salsa are so popular that they are now one of the highest selling snack foods in the U.S.
In more recent years, other Latin American food varieties have gained popularity in the USA. Brazilian churrascarías (steak houses), with their all-you-can-eat rodizio service, have become mainstream in many urban areas. Colombian arepa stands are often present at street fairs. Ceviche, which is thought to have originated in Peru, is considered a delicacy by many Americans. Of course, the very diverse list goes on and is often influenced by the makeup of an area's Latin American population.
Hispanic and Latin American culture places a strong value on family. Historically, Hispanics and Latin Americans tended to have large, close-knit families. It was not uncommon for three generations to live in the same household or nearby each other, with grandparents playing an important role in their grandchildren's upbringing. Although such living situations have become less common, the emphasis on the well-being of the family often makes Hispanic and Latin Americans very group-oriented with family gatherings being commonplace.
Soccer is gaining momentum as a major sport in the USA.
Image courtesy of Pexels
The U.S. has many Spanish-language media outlets ranging from giant commercial broadcasting networks to local radio stations. The two largest broadcasting networks are Univision and Telemundo, which provide Spanish-language television to the majority of the U.S. The availability of Spanish-language television made it possible for Hispanic and Latin Americans to follow the sport of soccer in the U.S. at a time when English-language media outlets were not broadcasting the matches. This increased visibility has greatly influenced the growth in popularity of soccer in the U.S.
After his 2018 collaboration with Madonna, Maluma became a household name.
Image by Teca Lamboglia
Hispanic and Latin Americans have had a huge influence on music in the United States. In the 20th Century, for example, Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean rhythms helped shape the sounds of the "uniquely American" genre of jazz. In 1986, Billboard magazine introduced the "Hot Latin Songs" chart, which ranks the best performing songs on Spanish-Language radio stations in the U.S. In 1993, they introduced the "Top Latin Albums" chart, which ranks the top-selling Latin albums in the U.S. The Record Industry Association of America began "Los Premios de Oro y Platino", meaning "The Gold and Platinum Awards" to certify Latin recordings that contained at least 50% of its content recorded in Spanish. Numerous Hispanic and Latin American musicians have achieved international fame such as Jennifer Lopez, late tejano singer Selena, and Puerto Rican heartthrob Ricky Martin. In recent years, the reggaetón genre has taken American airwaves by storm, with artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Maluma crossing over into mainstream American music. Similarly, Brazilian pop artists like Anitta and drag superstar Pabllo Vittar are making their mark on the U.S. music scene.
The contributions of Latino/a and Hispanic culture to that of the United States are countless, and we encourage you to learn more. National Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 and runs through October 15. Check out Hispanic and Latino cultural events in your area!
Sources Cited:
Facts for National Hispanic Heritage Month
What is the future of Spanish in the United States?
Ranking Latino Populations in the States
Hispanic Churches in American Public Life
Remezcla - culture archives
Hispanics in the U.S.
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Пурцеладзе Анатолій Олексійович (1940—2013) — артист оригінального жанру, заслужений артист УРСР.
 Пурцеладзе Антон Миколайович (1839—1913) — грузинський письменник, публіцист, письменник, критик, соціолог, історик, поет, драматург і економіст.
 Пурцеладзе Георгій Михайлович (1867—1924) — генерал-майор, герой Першої світової війни.

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6 tips to survive the holiday season
Date posted: 6/12/2019 5 min read
Performance expert Dr Adam Fraser shares his tips to stay chilled out as you head into the summer break.
The lead-up to Christmas and New Year can be exhausting due to endless events and end-of-year deadlines.
Being choosy on what events you attend and leaving parties early can help prevent holiday burnout.
Blocking out time for rejuvenating activities such as meditation and exercise can also assist.
By Fiona Smith
The Christmas and New Year break should be something to look forward to, but in the December lead-up we typically run ourselves ragged trying to meet end-of-year deadlines while also being under pressure to attend office parties, client drinks, lunches and an endless parade of children's school events. Human performance researcher Dr Adam Fraser shares his tips to preventing holiday season burnout.
1. Recovery moments
Create some small moments for rejuvenation. Every day, find the time to do something that relaxes you – be it meditating, reading or walking.
"If you just run on nervous energy, trying to do everything at once, you will fall apart once you stop," says Fraser, explaining why it is that so many people get sick as soon as they start their holiday. He recommends committing to a December exercise regimen with a friend to keep each other on track.
2. Watch your intake
Easier said than done. Overindulging in canapes and bubbly might seem like a good idea at the time, but it comes at a cost.
"About 25-50% of the weight we gain over a year comes from that holiday period," says Fraser. He suggests standing as far away as possible from food and the bar.
Make a deal with yourself either to go alcohol-free or just have one glass. Don't eat the party pies, but eat as many raw vegetables as you like.
Fraser also suggests that you eat before you arrive, "a sort of pre-loading in an adult, non-alcoholic way". Maybe pick one event to allow yourself a blowout, but make it the one with the highest quality fare.
3. Show up smart
Arrive early, leave early. The great thing about this tactic is that when you arrive there will be fewer people in the room, so your presence will be noticed. Make a noise, greet everyone when they arrive, work the room by taking food and drinks around.
As the room fills up and the volume rises, you can slip out quickly and people will be left with the impression that you were fully committed and the life of the party all night. What's more, you get to see people at their best, before their inhibitions slip.
"You don't want to be around when that stuff happens," says Fraser.
4. Be choosy
You don't have to go to everything to which you are invited. Prioritise.
"What I'm trying to do is slowly wind myself down," Fraser says. "Years ago, I used to push myself so far I would crawl across the finish line and, by the time I got to my holiday, I would be exhausted."
With family commitments, such as school concerts, Fraser suggests parents strategise the month and lay out the calendar to work out who will go to what event, but to also block out times for relaxation.
5. Plan a proper rest
Fraser says the kind of holidays that are the most rejuvenating are those that are low on planning, agenda and responsibility.
"Doing a 'it's Monday, it must be Athens' kind of whirlwind tour will not be relaxing," he says. "A tightly packed agenda tends to exhaust people."
6. Maintain the peace
Family get-togethers can be particularly painful if there are personality clashes. By the end of the year, people tend to be stressed and "not the best version" of themselves, Fraser notes.
"You are actually itching for an argument. The key is knowing which family members are going to push your buttons and choosing the high road when you disagree," he says. "Just let it go by."
Dr Adam Fraser is the author of The Third Space: Using life's little transitions to find balance and happiness, available at https://www.dradamfraser.com/ or to borrow from CA Library.
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Personal Effectiveness and Wellness
Mindfulness and Balance
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