People across the globe migrate to the US in hopes of living the American dream. Our nation is culturally diverse with immigrants from various regions, particularly those with Hispanic origins. The United States has a Hispanic population of over 65 million as of 2024, which could grow to 71.68 million by 2025.
Starting life in the United States presents an exciting opportunity for Hispanic families to build a better future for themselves, however, it is not free of challenges. One of the main challenges Hispanic families face in the United States face is preserving their rich cultural traditions while adjusting to a new environment.
Hispanic cultural traditions are built around wholesome family customs, shared social values, and vibrant cultural celebrations. Preserving these aspects while living in the United States can help Hispanic families stay connected to their heritage.
Additionally, Hispanic families can practice five simple activities that can help them stay connected with and preserve their culture. This article will explore how each of these practices can help Hispanic families living in America effectively preserve their culture.
1. Speaking the Spanish Language
Language is the primary means of connection that Hispanic families can use to preserve their culture. Speaking the language at home can act as a direct link to Hispanic culture, and allow families to pass down stories, norms, and values to future generations using their mother tongue, strengthening their connection to their origin and identity.
Additionally, Spanish is one of the largest spoken languages in the United States and beyond. With close to 41.89 million native Spanish speakers in the United States, learning the language provides numerous opportunities for community engagement.
Developing a firm grip on the language can also help Hispanic children effectively communicate with a large number of individuals from the same ethnic group, further developing a sense of cultural pride and acceptance.
2. Communicating with Loved Ones
Communication is key for Hispanic families in the United States to preserve their culture. Whether it’s communicating with family living in another part of America or back home, keeping in touch with loved ones plays an integral role in preserving cultural traditions.
Communicating with loved ones such as your abuelos and abuelas, tíos, and tías helps foster a sense of belonging, cultural connection, and pride. By reinforcing the language, sharing Hispanic stories or folklore, and discussing upcoming cultural events, Hispanic families can pass down and preserve their rich cultural traditions for generations to come.
The widespread availability of the Internet has made communication across borders easier. If you’re looking to set up an internet connection to stay in touch, you can reach out to support from Cox en español.
3. Celebrating Hispanic Cultural Events
The Hispanic culture is filled with rich cultural events, festivals, and holidays that entail vibrant and colorful celebrations. Significant days like the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Cinco de Mayo (5th of May), and Quinceañera to name a few are prime examples.
One of the best aspects of living in the United States is how each community has the freedom to practice or celebrate their culture. Attending and celebrating these events as a family will allow access to a shared space where rich cultural stories, customs, and values of similar individuals are actively displayed.
Attending these events plays a huge role in strengthening family bonds, as well as identity bonds among younger generations. Additionally, with large members of the community coming together to celebrate, these events create a sense of community and pride for Hispanic families.
4. Teaching and Cooking Hispanic Recipes Together
As someone with Hispanic friends, I can’t overstate how delicious Hispanic-origin food is. This is because food is an integral part of Hispanic culture, bringing with it a touch of home and rich ancestral history.
Cooking Hispanic cuisine together as a family is a great way to strengthen intergenerational connection, and preserve the culture among future generations. By sharing family history, cooking techniques, and secret ingredients, younger generations can understand their ancestral way of life, and develop a higher respect for and association with their origin.
Hispanic food also paves the way to learn further aspects of the Hispanic culture as it is often associated with significant events and holidays. Cooking Hispanic recipes as a family can help develop a firm understanding of the history and value of these celebrations, providing deeper insight into the culture.
5. Watching Spanish Television Shows, Films, and Sports
With a wide range of streaming services filled with rich Hispanic content, Hispanic families can help preserve cultural traditions using the power of entertainment. Platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime offer a wide range of Hispanic content that celebrates cultural heroes such as Selena, and Jose Hernandez.
Additionally, families can preserve the culture by educating their children on significant historical events that shape their origins. Documentaries such as Stolen Education, VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, and Break It All: The History of Rock in Latin America can help children understand the struggles or events behind certain cultural developments.
Last but not least, there are also numerous platforms, like ESPN Deportes for Hispanic families to enjoy another core aspect of the culture, sports. Soccer is a crucial part of Hispanic culture and watching games together can help strengthen family bonds and the passion for the sport, indirectly helping Hispanic children embrace a widely popular cultural aspect.
Preserving Culture – The Key to Helping Hispanic Children Find Themselves
Jamaican activist, Marcus Garvey said it like it is, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture, is like a tree without roots.”
Wherever you may be living, your culture will always be a part of your identity and you cannot find yourself until you get in touch with your roots.
Under the guise of the five easy and practical family bonding activities shared in this article, you can help your child connect with their rich Hispanic heritage, preserving it across future generations.
English 
Chinese