This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are pleased to highlight Marjorie Rose, the firm’s professional development manager. Marjorie shares some childhood memories and how she sees the Hispanic community changing and shaping the future.

“My mom is from Nicaragua and immigrated to the United States in the early 1980s. Growing up, my grandmother lived with us, and I shared a room with her until was 13. My grandmother never learned to speak English even though she lived almost 30 years here; she said that they only speak Spanish in heaven, and since she was going straight to heaven, she didn’t need to learn English.

“We used to go to purísmas at the homes of Nicaraguan friends in the community. La Purísma is a religious celebration, Christmas, Halloween, and Carnival all rolled into one. It’s a nine-day prayer in honor of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary that ends Dec. 7 with La Gritería (the shouting). Typically, people build an altar in their homes to the Virgin Mary and host friends, family, and neighbors. I remember huge and elaborate altars.

“People go from home to home, altar to altar, singing folk songs and screaming, “¿Quién causa tanta alegría?” (“Who causes so much happiness?”) Others respond, “¡La concepción de María!” (“The conception of Mary!”) and hand out small gifts and noisemakers and food and drinks. Sometimes, it’s celebrated with “La Gigantona,” a giant puppet that dances through the streets with drums and horns.

“A lot of kids like me who had to help their own parents navigate their communities and this country are growing up and shaping the future.  The Hispanic population in the United States is the youngest in the country. A lot of those people have the dual perspective of growing up in two cultures: at home with their families speaking Spanish and watching telenovelas with our grandmas; and the greater American culture that we picked up in school and on TV. I think that duality will also shape a lot of our culture at large. You already see Hispanic culture influencing everything from American sports to music to art.”