Happy Independence Day Guatemala!

Guatemala celebrated 191 years of freedom from Spanish rule. The ways they celebrate are loud, meaningful, and much fun.

As an American, I imagined celebrating Independence Day as a 1 day event. But not in Guatemala. It is a 3 day celebration! As we were driving from Escuintla back to Antigua, there were so many groups of kids jogging while blowing whistles. One or two people would be holding a torch and chicken buses with blue and white balloons were honking their horns. Although it slowed traffic down because the kids were jogging on main streets, it was really fun to watch and I wondered what the meaning of the torch was.

On the night of September 14, 1821, Maria Dolores Bedoya became a national hero by participating in the independence movement. She ran around Guatemala City carrying a torch urging Guatemalans to support the independence of their country. The next day, September 15, she was among the people waiting outside the National Palace of Guatemala for the decision, which culminated in the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

In memory of this historic performance, children celebrate the patriotic actions of this hero on the eve of September 14 by forming groups who run carrying torches in a victory celebration of independence. But in Guatemala, as the kids would run with chicken buses following behind, there was an unusual sight of hundreds of people standing on the side streets from their villages, throwing what looked like water balloons at buses. If they didn't have water balloons, they would hurl water from buckets onto trucks or use a garden hose to spray vehicles who would honk and join in the celebration. Throughout our drive from Sipacate Beach to Antigua, everyone was throwing water balloons along the way. 

On the 15th of September, all the school's marching bands would parade around towns. Families would relax together on the grass. Street food looked prettier. In Antigua, Central Park was flooded with people and marching bands. There were speeches and an amazing moment of a country united singing their national anthem. This year, Guatemala has an extra reason to feel patriotic as well. Guatemalteco Erick Barrondo was the first Guatemalan to ever win an olympic medal! He won the Silver Medal in the 20-km race walk. 

It was very special to be a witness to the patriotic celebrations, that at times did get quite annoying because of all the noise from fireworks, whistles, and car honks. But that is the beauty of it. Happy Independence Day Guatemala!