Sep 15, 2019
Honduras Independence Day 2019
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle features La Bandera de Honduras, the flag that will fly throughout the Central American nation today in celebration of Honduras Independence Day.
The flag’s blue horizontal stripes represent the two bodies of water—the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea—that surround the country, while the white stripe represents peace. The five blue stars in the flag’s center stand for Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua—the five states that declared independence from Spanish rule on this day in 1821.
In honor of this historic anniversary, a torch will be carried by student runners and local leaders from Guatemala City through Honduras all the way to San José, the capital of Costa Rica. Known as Antorcha de la Independencia, the annual 240-mile torch run recreates the journey of messengers who rode on horseback to announce the independence of the five states that would comprise the República Federal de Centroamérica nearly two centuries ago.
Honduras celebrates independence in a big way, with young people playing a prominent role. Student bands practice for months, preparing to march in local parades. Kindergartens parade on September 13th, with elementary schools marching the following day, and high schools on Independence Day itself. Music, street vendors, and food stands fill the streets. Many families enjoy the day off from work to spend time together, perhaps sharing a plato típico—a generous serving of beef, plantains, beans, cabbage, tortillas, and cream. The festivities then culminate with a grand fireworks display.
¡Feliz Día de Independencia!
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