ValleyCentral presents Hispanic Heritage Month Special 2025

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, CBS4 and NBC23 are honoring the culture and history of the Hispanic community.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, our team will air stories to commemorate the communities and history of the Rio Grande Valley that helped shape future generations of Hispanic creators.

We will broadcast a 30-minute special featuring the following stories at 5 p.m. on Sept. 15 on CBS and ValleyCentral+, and at 6:30 p.m. on NBC and ValleyCentral+.

When should you start planning a quinceañera?

A quinceañera is more than just a party. It symbolizes a girl’s transition from girlhood to womanhood.

For many Hispanic families, it’s a time to gather those closest to you and show respect for culture, faith, and growth. The “quince,” as it’s called in shorthand, dates back to 16th-century Latin America, when ancient tribes performed an initiation ceremony to celebrate a young girl becoming a part of society (and a prospective wife).

Nowadays, a quinceañera celebration is easily adapted to fit any girl’s lifestyle and personality.

The celebration typically includes a religious ceremony, followed by a reception and dance. Some symbolic gestures that happen during the celebration include a father-daughter dance and the presentation of “the last doll.”

However, the question follows, "When should one start planning their quince?"

For many, they think about their quinceañera from a young age, imagining the theme, the decorations, colors, dress, crown, and shoes. For a Hispanic girl, every detail can make them feel like a princess on their special day.

But planning a quinceañera is not the same as planning just any birthday party. A lot goes into making these celebrations happen.

Mexican Independence Day celebrates history through food, music, and dance

Mexican Independence came with passion, a fight, and pride. Now, several generations later, it is celebrated with cultural dances, music, food, and family.

It’s been 215 years since Mexico declared independence from Spain, and Arrieta says that since then, celebrating independence has unified the diverse cultures of Mexico.

While many non-Mexicans may confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence, celebrated on September 16, Arrieta says both are important in Mexican history, but independence should not be overshadowed.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates a battle won by Mexican forces against France in Puebla.

“It was such a joy in the north that we contained that power, that it is in the memory of the people that Cinco de Mayo has to be celebrated,” Arrieta said. “But on the other hand, this is not the real struggle of independence. We don’t want to remember the sadness or the struggle. We want to be proud of what we are, and the first thing first is our independence.”

That pride can be felt through the food, music, dance, and history told at celebrations in Mexico and in other parts of the world. It also gets passed down through the generations.

San Juan's Día de los Muertos: Vibrant traditions honor the dead

One of the most widely known celebrations in Hispanic Culture is Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead. This holiday has been celebrated for centuries worldwide, and the city of San Juan is aiming to become the beacon of this celebration in the Rio Grande Valley.

Día de los Muertos has been celebrated for a long time before the Conquistadores came to Mexico. After the Spaniards colonized Mexico in the 16th Century, they combined their Christian celebrations with the cultures of the indigenous people that were already being practiced.

The epicenter of the colorful tradition is the Ofrenda, which honors those who have died. Father Jorge Gomez, Rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, said the Ofrenda is a place for families to memorialize their loved ones in different ways.

"We are not celebrating death, we are honoring the dead," Gomez said. "We are going to have a big Ofrenda here at the Basilica, and you can bring pictures and a blanket so you can put your pictures and any way you want to decorate it with flowers.

While remembering those who have died can be a somber and difficult moment, Fr. Gomez said honoring the dead can also bring peace in a time of need.

A Mexican twist on Thanksgiving grows on both sides of the border

Hispanic Heritage is not just about honoring the past; it’s also about reshaping traditions in a way that reflects the present.

In the Rio Grande Valley and across the border in Mexico, families are putting their own spin on Thanksgiving, blending American and Hispanic cultures in one celebration.

From turkey to tamales, “Mexican Thanksgiving” meals have been popular, with flavors and customs that reflect the region’s identity.

Alex Mora, a McAllen resident, told ValleyCentral that his family enjoys embracing their traditional Mexican favorite dishes during the holidays.

While Mora and his family will make the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, they will also include other dishes such as pozole and green spaghetti.

The famous green spaghetti, made with poblano peppers, jalapeno, cilantro, and crema mexicana, is one of the few examples of how Valley families are giving Thanksgiving a Hispanic twist.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.