By Jaime Gutierrez, Spanish Teacher
Nicaragua, Nicaraguita... the most beautiful flower of my love!" - Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy
The month of September is better known as "Patriotic Month" since two significant dates are celebrated, September 14, where the battle of San Jacinto is commemorated, and on September 15, the independence of Central America.
The Battle of San Jacinto took place on the 14 September in 1856 in Hacienda San Jacinto, Managua, Nicaragua. 160 soldiers of the Legitimist Septemtrion Army led versus 300 Nicaraguan filibusters of the self-declared president of Nicaragua William Walker (US Born). The filibusters were defeated after four hours of combat. To celebrate, the majority of the country dresses in blue and white to celebrate both of the dates and you will see school children marching as part of the celebration.
This year the national holidays will be celebrated with greater joy as we commemorate the bicentennial of the independence of Central America, which was on September 15, 1821, when the act of independence was signed and recognized by the Spanish crown.
On these dates, the schools are decorated with flags and decorations of the colors of our national flag such as blue, which means justice, loyalty, fraternity, strength, courage, the sky, and the color of our two lakes Xolotlán and Cocibolca (aka Lake Nicaragua); and white, which represents purity, integrity, equality, goodness, peace and the nation.
Our national symbols like the coat of arms, the flag are heavily displayed and the national anthem is sung daily in school before studies. The national symbols are also part of the decorations including our national flower "Sacuanjoche," our national tree "Madroño," and our national bird "Guardabarranco." And we cannot forget our heroes and heroes of our independence. Among them we have: Andres Castro, General Jose Dolores Estrada, Enmanuel Mongalo y Rubio, and Rafaela Herrera.
It is very nice to watch our annual parades by each school on September 14th morning and on September 15, all students attend their schools to read the act of Central American independence, Then our national anthem is sung by the students with great honor. Traditional Nicaraguan costumes shine, the Central American independence is dramatized, and each one of the students demonstrates the cultural talents that define them as pure ‘pinoleros’.
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