Sep 15, 2023
Nicaragua National Day 2023
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates Nicaragua’s National Day! On this day in 1821, Nicaragua and several other Central American countries signed the Act of Independence of Central America and gained freedom from Spanish rule.
Nicaragua was briefly a part of the Federal Republic of Central America along with the other countries that gained independence on this day: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. In 1838, the nation became fully self-governing.
To celebrate over 200 years of independence, festivities start on September 1st. The blue and white horizontally striped flag, like the one waving in today’s Doodle, is hung outside of homes. During the days leading up to Independence Day, a burning torch symbolizing freedom is carried by hand from Guatemala to Costa Rica. Over 8,000 students pass the torch to each other along the 387 km journey.
On National Day, school marching bands participate in the Festival Nacional de Bandas Rítmicas, and a grand finale in Managua determines what group gets bragging rights for the year. School bands and dance groups also parade through the streets in unison, and the pleasant sound of marimba playing fills the air. The Act of Independence is read aloud in state schools, and fireworks burst in the sky as night falls.
Happy Independence Day, Nicaragua!
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