When people learn that I’m Hispanic, they sometimes think that tells them everything they need to know about my culture; but when I say I’m Hispanic, there’s more to the story. My mom’s side of the family is Nicaraguan, while my dad’s side is Cuban. I grew up with two distinct cultures, each with its own food, traditions, music, expressions, and family stories.
Having both backgrounds has taught me that “Hispanic” is a broad label, but it doesn’t capture a single universal experience. It connects people from Spanish-speaking countries and communities, yet being Hispanic can look very different depending on where your family comes from. For me, being Hispanic means being both Nicaraguan and Cuban.
Hispanic is an umbrella Term
It’s easy to think of Hispanic culture as a single, shared experience. After all, many Hispanic families value similar things, such as family, food, music, and traditions. That doesn’t mean every Hispanic family celebrates the same holidays, eats the same foods, or uses the same expressions.
Nicaragua and Cuba are two distinct countries with their own histories and cultural identities. Growing up, I realized that the foods my family cooked, the words we used, and the traditions we practiced reflected our cultures, not a universal Hispanic culture.
Even the way people speak can differ. Every country has its own slang and expressions that can immediately make a conversation feel familiar to someone from that culture. In Nicaragua, words like maje and tuani are examples of expressions associated with Nicaraguan Spanish. These small differences are part of what makes each culture unique.
Being Hispanic connects me to a broader community, but my Nicaraguan and Cuban backgrounds tell a more specific story about who I am.
My Nicaraguan side
My connection to Nicaragua comes through my mom’s side of the family, and food is one of the main ways I connect with that heritage. Nicaraguan cuisine includes dishes such as gallo pinto, nacatamales, and vigorón, each with its own place in the country’s food culture. Gallo pinto, a combination of rice and beans, is especially well known as a staple of Nicaraguan cuisine.
Food is never just food when it comes to family. A dish can become a memory. It can remind you of a family gathering, a holiday, or a relative who made it for you. It can be something you look forward to because it tastes like home. I distinctly remember my family and I setting up an assembly line to make nacatamales together for a holiday, at the beach, or just because we wanted some the next day.
That connection is part of what makes my Nicaraguan heritage feel personal. It isn’t just knowing where Nicaragua is or the names of traditional dishes; it’s having those cultural pieces connected to my family and my own memories.
Nicaraguan culture also extends beyond food. Music, language, humor, and family traditions all shape how I understand that side of my heritage. Some things feel normal to me because I grew up around them, but they may not be familiar to someone who didn’t.
My Cuban side
On my dad’s side, I have Cuban heritage. Cuban culture brings a distinct set of traditions, foods, and experiences to my family. Cuban coffee, or cafecito, can be as much a social tradition as it is a drink. Cuban cuisine includes dishes such as ropa vieja and yuca con mojo, and Cuban music and expressions have their own distinct cultural history.
Just as with Nicaragua, the details matter. Cuban family gatherings, food, and music can foster connection across generations. Families pass down traditions, and a particular kind of humor and energy can make time with relatives feel like its own experience.
Every year, when my great-grandfather was alive, he prepared and roasted the pig for Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve. Now that he has passed away, my dad’s cousin has taken over and kept the tradition alive.
Although my Nicaraguan and Cuban sides differ, I notice similarities between them as well. Both have taught me that family is important, that food can express love, and that traditions are worth preserving. Those similarities are part of what makes having both cultures in my family so meaningful.
I don’t have to choose
Having Nicaraguan and Cuban roots has made me think more deeply about what identity means. Sometimes, people treat cultural identity as something you have to choose one label for. I don’t see my background that way. My mom’s Nicaraguan heritage and my dad’s Cuban heritage are both part of my family history, so both are part of mine.
I don’t have to decide whether I’m more Nicaraguan or more Cuban. I can love gallo pinto and appreciate cafecito. I can learn traditions from my mom’s side while also celebrating those from my dad’s side. I can recognize that Nicaragua and Cuba are distinct cultures without feeling that I have to separate them from my identity.
Having both backgrounds has also made me more aware of the Hispanic community’s diversity. There isn’t one way to be Hispanic, and no single experience represents everyone. For some, their Hispanic identity may be tied to one country. For others, it may stem from multiple cultures, as in my case. If I don’t have to choose between mine, you don’t have to choose between yours.
My identity is bigger than one word
Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate more than a label. It’s a chance to learn about the many cultures, histories, and traditions within the Hispanic community. For me, that means celebrating both sides of my family. It means recognizing the Nicaraguan culture I inherited from my mom and the Cuban culture I inherited from my dad.
It means appreciating the food, music, language, humor, and family traditions that make both cultures special to me. Being Hispanic tells people something about who you are, but it doesn’t tell your whole story. My story is Nicaraguan; my story is Cuban. Both cultures are part of my family and who I am.
Whether you have one heritage or more, you should share your story with others. It’s a part of who you are, and it’s such a beautiful part of you. What’s your heritage? I’d love to learn more about you.
Want to see more HCFSU? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!