Arts
Created by Chespirito, this cultural phenomenon featured an orphan boy in a barrel and used humor to explore themes of poverty, friendship, and everyday life in a working-class neighborhood.
El Chavo del Ocho
This Cuban patriot wrote poems, essays, and articles that stirred a movement for independence, blending art and activism in the name of his beloved homeland.
José Martí
This Mexican poet won the Nobel Prize in 1990 and wrote The Labyrinth of Solitude about Mexican identity.
Octavio Paz
As the first Latin American player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he was a vocal advocate for equitable treatment of Latin American players.
Roberto Clemente
This Bolivian dance, blending Indigenous and colonial influences, is performed in elaborate costumes during festivals.
Diablada o Morenada
The success of his 1999 album made him the first male Latin artist in history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. He was also the first and only artist to enter the US Hot Latin Songs Chart in Five different decades.
Ricky Martin
This Honduran environmentalist stood up to powerful developers and was assassinated for her resistance to a hydroelectric dam project on indigenous land.
Berta Cáceres
This Cuban poet and national hero wrote Versos Sencillos, which includes the lyrics to "Guantanamera."
José Martí
This Colombian soccer player became the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot.
James Rodríguez
This feathered serpent god was worshiped by both the Maya and Aztec civilizations.
Quetzalcoatl
This Mexican-born cinematographer won Oscars for Gravity, The Revenant, and Roma.
Emmanuel Lubezki
This Costa Rican president defied global norms by abolishing the military, using those funds to invest in education, healthcare, and democratic institutions.
José Figueres Ferrer
This Argentine writer is celebrated for his intricate short stories exploring themes of infinity, mirrors, and labyrinths, especially in collections like Ficciones and El Aleph.
Jorge Luis Borges
He became the first Latin American to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics, which elevated Brazil as a gymnastics powerhouse.
Arthur Zanetti
This anniversary in 1992 led many Latin American countries to reframe Columbus Day as a time to honor Indigenous peoples.
Quincentennial (500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival)