The Monmouth University Tau Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated hosted, “Por La Cultura” on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The meeting, which translates to, “For the Culture,” was hosted as a way to share the beauty of Spanish culture and discuss the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month. The commemorative celebration of Hispanic Culture takes place annually from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as a way to honor, celebrate and share the culture and experiences of those within the community.
According to Destiny Montgomery, a history and political science student and a sister of LTA who also served as the event’s moderator, “This observance began in 1968 as a one-week celebration and quickly evolved into a 30-day celebration starting on the Independence Day of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.”
The Tau’s also shared the difference between being Latino and being Hispanic. “Not all Latinos are Hispanic,” Montgomery explained. Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean two different things. Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking populations, while Latino refers to people who are from or descended from people from Latin America.”
It was evident how proud each member is of their respective cultures, as they shared personal accounts of their own heritage at the event.
The Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority was incredibly welcoming and warm, and even got participants involved by including various ice breakers and trivia games as a way to learn more about different Spanish countries and historical events.
For more information about Lambda Theta Alpha and to learn more about upcoming events, be sure to check them out on Instagram, @lta_tau.
