Sep 15, 2021
Guatemala Independence Day 2021
This Doodle’s Key Themes
From its active volcanoes to its monumental stone ruins, Guatemala is a Mesoamerican hotspot of abundant biodiversity and a deeply rooted cultural heritage. Today’s Doodle honors Guatemala’s bicentennial Independence Day which commemorates exactly 200 years as a sovereign nation alongside fellow Central American nations Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
In honor of this historic day, two official torches have been carried to municipalities across the country since February of 2021. These torches represent the 1821 journey made by government officials from Guatemala through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and finally to Costa Rica to announce the news of emancipation. Their mission across Guatemala ends on the eve of Independence Day and announces the start of national celebrations.
Today, school parades traditionally commence with vibrant processions lined with the white and blue Guatemalan flag, depicted waving in the Doodle artwork. Children perform traditional marimba routines accompanied by customary dances from revelers dressed in trajes—costumes of long skirts and colorful lace shirts that bare traditional Mayan designs.
Happy Independence Day, Guatemala!
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