In The Community
Celebrate Traditional Holidays and Festivals
Photo by Fili Santillán on UnsplashNothing brings you closer to your heritage than celebrating Latino holidays and festivals. Whether it’s Día de los Muertos, Las Posadas, or Carnaval, participating in these cultural events can fill you with a sense of belonging. You don’t have to go all out if you’re short on time—simple things like cooking traditional meals, setting up an altar, or attending a local event can go a long way in keeping you connected.
Practice Your Spanish or Rock Your Spanglish
Photo by ELEVATE
Language is a powerful connector to our heritage. Even if you’re not fluent, using Spanish (or your family’s native language) in everyday conversations can help you maintain that tie to your roots. Call up your abuela or cousins and practice! Bilingualism is not just a skill—it’s a bridge to your culture. If you still don’t master Spanish as a second language, Spanglish is just as valid! Just remember, being able to speak Spanish or your family’s native language doesn’t make you more or less Latina. It’s a skill and it can help you connect to your roots, yes, but it’s not the end-all-be-all.
Explore Latino Art and Music
Photo by Yuting Gao
From reggaeton and salsa to mariachi and folkloric dances, Latino music is vibrant, diverse, and full of soul. Attending local concerts featuring Latino artists or creating a playlist with the sounds that remind you of home is a great way to connect to your roots on a daily basis. Art also plays a huge role in keeping cultural narratives alive, so keep an eye on Latino authors, local exhibitions by Latino artists, and more.
Get Involved in Your Local Latino Community
Photo by Hannah Busing on UnsplashCommunity is everything in Latino culture, and staying involved locally can keep that sense of connection strong. That’s not limited to just your family, though, so make sure to venture into your local Latino community. Volunteer at community centers, attend cultural events or join a Latino-focused organization. These are great ways to meet like-minded Latinos and stay rooted in shared traditions while nurturing new friendships. These spaces also offer opportunities to support one another and learn more about the issues affecting Latinos in the U.S.
Cook Traditional Food from Your Native Country
Photo by Frederick Medina on UnsplashFood is a universal language, and nothing brings back childhood memories quite like the smells of a dish that’s been passed down through generations. Make an effort to cook traditional recipes from your family’s country of origin, whether it’s tamales, arepas, empanadas, arroz con gandules, or anything in between. Cooking these meals is not only a great way to stay connected but also an opportunity to share your culture with your children if you’re a parent or your friends and close circle.
Teach Your Kids About Your Culture
Photo by Alena Darmel
Speaking of which, if you’re a mother, passing on your cultural heritage to your children is one of the most beautiful ways to keep traditions alive. Share stories, cook together, and teach them about the significance of certain holidays and traditions. Even if they don’t grow up in a Latino-majority environment, the simple act of teaching your children about their Latino culture will instill a sense of pride in their heritage. This will help them stay connected with their roots as well and strengthen their cultural identity.
Travel to Your Homeland
Photo by Gerrie van der Walt on UnsplashThere’s nothing quite like experiencing your culture firsthand. If possible, make trips to your homeland a part of your yearly or bi-yearly routine. Whether you’ve never been to your homeland or you haven’t been there since you moved to the U.S., visiting and spending some time there will immerse you in the culture and reignite or recharge your sense of belonging. If travel isn’t really an option for you, staying connected to your local Latino community is the next best thing.
Keep Your Family Traditions Alive
Photo by Alex wolf mx
Whether it’s your family’s Sunday dinner routine, a special holiday tradition, traditional fashion or hairstyles, or a spiritual practice, keeping those customs alive can be an anchor for you. Even if you’re far from your family or feel disconnected from your Latino culture, practicing these traditions will remind you of your heritage and keep it close at heart. Mundane customs and small moments can create a sense of connection in your everyday life, even when you’re miles away from where your roots begin.
By staying engaged with your heritage through these practices, you can maintain a strong connection to your Latino roots while still navigating life in the U.S. Your culture is a vital part of who you are, and it’s something that should be celebrated every day, so make sure to do that in any way you can.
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You took on the translator role
Photo by Tiger Lily
Remember growing up and always having to translate for your parents? Whether it was at parent-teacher conferences, doctor's appointments, or dealing with government forms, you were the go-to translator. There was nothing you couldn’t translate at a moment’s notice, even if it meant getting creative with terms you didn’t even fully understand yourself.
You experienced lunchbox envy
Photo by Gustavo Fring
Oh, the lunchbox envy! While all the other kids had PB&J sandwiches with the crusts cut off, you were rocking homemade dishes like arroz con pollo, empanadas, or tamales. As a kid, you might have felt a bit left out or experienced a little envy, wishing for those simple sandwiches, but now you look back and realize you had gourmet meals every day. Those other kids’ lunchboxes had nothing on you, they were missing out all along.
The expectations were high
Photo by August de Richelieu
Getting straight A’s in school wasn’t always something to celebrate—it was expected. Once college applications rolled around, your parents probably nudged you towards careers in law, medicine, or engineering. Want to major in creative writing? Ha! That was a cute joke to them. The pressure was intense, but it also pushed you to achieve things you never thought possible and it empowered you to find your own way.
You were shocked when your white friends talked back to their parents
Photo by Mary Taylor
You never talked back to your parents, ever. It was unthinkable to you, so watching friends who sassed their parents without any repercussion was nothing short of surprising. Sassing your own parents was never an option and you knew better than to even try. The respect was real, and sometimes, there was a little fear mixed into it. Let’s be honest with ourselves!
You had to deal with “Where are you really from?”
Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev
In the U.S., people don’t always see you as American if you don’t look like them. You may patiently explain that you were born here, but they still ask, “But where are you really from?” It’s a question that never seems to go away, no matter how many times you answer it. It can be passive-aggressive, for sure, but rising above it and asserting your dual identity sure feels good.
You understood how hard life was for your parents
Photo by RDNE Stock project
Your parents never hesitated to remind you how hard life was back home. You appreciate their sacrifices, of course, but you could recite their stories by heart. Their tales of hardship and perseverance are part of what drives you to succeed, even if you want to roll your eyes when you hear them for the hundredth time. Be patient with your parents though; their trauma is real.
You were angry about the no-sleepover rule
Photo by Monstera Production
Sleepovers? Forget about it. Asking to go to a sleepover was a lost cause. It didn’t matter how much you begged or promised to behave; sleepovers were just off the table. If you did get to experience them, you’re part of a minority. That said, chances are that if you’re a parent now yourself, you probably understand why your parents were so hesitant to trust their child to strangers. It kinda goes against your parental instinct!
Dating was difficult
Photo by Júlia Silva
Dating was another minefield when you were young. You couldn’t date until you were at least 16 (maybe 18, depending on how strict your parents were). And when you finally did start dating, your parents had to meet and interrogate your date before you were allowed to leave the house. How they answered questions about their family determined their fate in your parents' eyes, it was very intense.
You had to deal with fashion police at home
Photo by Monstera Production
We bet your mom was the fashion police. She would try to throw out or hide any clothing she didn’t like, and red lipstick or nail polish? No way. You weren’t grounded because you weren’t allowed to leave the house looking “like a grown-up” in the first place. It was all about preserving your innocence for as long as possible, so it made it very difficult for you to jump into fashion trends.
You appreciate your cultural mash-up
Photo by Los Muertos Crew
You embody a mash-up of cultures, and it’s simultaneously hilarious, weird, and the best thing ever. Maybe you speak Portuguese with your father, Spanish with your mom, and English with your siblings. Things get lost in translation, but your multi-cultural upbringing has shaped who you are. You get the best of all worlds, and it’s a gift you wouldn’t trade for anything.
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