Nicaragua Liberation Day Date: July 19, 2009.
Liberation Day is a public holiday in Nicaragua.
Liberation Day is similar to Independence Day. It marks the date of the liberation of a country from occupation by another country, or the date of a revolution that overthrew the existing system in the country and replaced it by another. In Nicaragua, a Central American democratic republic, Liberation Day is observed on July 19th. The day commemorates the flight of the Somoza family from Nicaragua on this day in 1979.
Nicaragua Liberation Day History
The family of Anastasio Somoza had ruled the country as a dictatorship between the years 1937 and 1979. The Somoza family’s coming to power was actually facilitated by the US-influenced pact of 1927 according to which there would be the formation of a National Guard that would replace the small individual armies which had ruled parts of the country for many years.
General Sandino was the only Nicaraguan who refused to sign this pact and fought the US Marines for more than five years from his base in the mountains of Las Segovias. When the US Marines finally left the country after an agreement with the guerrilla Sandinistas, the National Guard was left in control of the state and Anastasio Somoza Garcia held the highest position in the National Guard. Somoza’s foresight made him fear a future armed attack from General Sandino, and on basis of this fear, Somoza invited Sandino to a meeting in Managua, and Sandino was assassinated by the National Guard on 21st February, 1934.
The dictatorship began of the Somoza family as, after having his most potent rival killed, Somoza took control of the country and destroyed any potential armed revolt. Somoza himself was assassinated by a Nicaraguan poet named Rigoberto López Pérez, and was succeeded by his eldest son Luis Somoza Debayle. Luis Somoza’s brother Anastasio Somoza Debayle was made the leader of the National Guard. Luis Somoza died of a heart attack in 1967 and was succeeded by Rene Schick who was more or less a puppet president as Anastasio Somoza held control of the National Guard. Somoza officially took charge of the presidency soon afterwards.
Meanwhile, in 1961, Carlos Fonseca, a young student inspired by the ideals of the late General Sandino, formed the Sandinista National Liberation Front which eventually ousted Somoza and took power on 19th July 1979. Somoza abandoned the country and finally landed in Paraguay, only to be assassinated by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers’ Party in September 1980.
Nicaragua Liberation Day Traditions and Activities
Liberation Day in Nicaragua is taken very seriously and is celebrated enthusiastically by the citizens, most of whom had witnessed the rise to power of the Sandinista National Liberation Front. The day is celebrated like Independence Day in any other country- with parades, speeches, singing of the national anthem, hoisting of the national flag and even fireworks.
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