The fiesta is coming to an end.
Hispanic Heritage month, which began Sept. 15, a day when five Latin American countries claimed their independence — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua — officially ends Wednesday.
But the salsa only got hotter toward the end, as the Hanau community found out during the final performance of the Latino band Hot Molina.
The three front women of Hot Molina, from Colorado, spiced up the night with black high heels and splashes of red, singing and dancing to salsa, merengue and cumbia.
Cultural months are known for teaching others about customs and traditions to better help understanding, so Hot Molina wanted to do the same for Hispanic Heritage Month by teaching the crowd how to dance while the band played.
Hot Molina has been playing for 12 years and are no strangers to the military.
In fact, after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks Hot Molina was touring military installations in Germany hoping to brighten spirits.
“It was really cool, because a lot of the servicemembers were confined to the bases and this was a time when a lot of other people were canceling their shows, leaving servicemembers with no outlet. We wanted to come and help them feel better,” said Sahara Martinez, one of the band’s singers.
“We are here to help people feel proud of their Hispanic heritage. No matter how small a percentage of Hispanic blood a person may have in them, we want them to be proud,” said Suzanna Morales, a vocalist who is half Colombian. “It’s definitely good for others to learn about different cultures, as well. It gives better understanding.”
Hot Molina toured Iceland and Germany and are headed to Norway to help troops and their families finish out Hispanic Heritage Month with a bang.
An audience member said Hot Molina was a perfect example of the Hispanic culture’s zest.
“The most obvious aspect of Hispanic cultures is their passion. They have a passion for the food they cook, the music they play and their dance. It's all very spicy,” Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Garza, of the 39th Finance Battalion, said.
There are nearly 40 million Hispanics in the United States or 13.5 percent of the total United States population. Plus, the U.S. Census Bureau says it is the fastest growing minority group within the states.
