Slovakia Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Date: September 15

Slovakia celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows.

A mass is celebrated every September 15 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Ĺ aštĂ­n-Stráže. It serves as the climax of events that marks the Roman Catholic feast day of Slovakia’s patron saint – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows.

History of Slovakia The Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows is the name by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to the sorrows in her life. She is the patron saint of Slovakia since 1927.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary is a popular religious observance in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Seven Sorrows are the events in the life of the Virgin Mary which follows:

1. Simeon’s prophecy of the Baby Jesus.

2. The Holy Family Escapes into Egypt.

3. The Child Jesus was lost and later found.

4. Jesus Meets Mary along the Way of the Cross.

5. Mary stands at the foot of the cross durin the Crucifixion.

6. The Taking Down from the Cross, where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms.

7. The Burial of Jesus. (John 19:40)

The Vatican approved the celebration of a feast in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows and it was first granted to the Servite order in 1667.

In 1814, the feast was added into the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and Pope Pius VII declared that the celebration be adopted by the whole Church. The feast was appointed to the third Sunday in September. Pope Pius X moved the feast to September 15 in 1913.

Pius XI declared in 1927 that Our Lady of Seven Sorrows to be the patron saint of Slovakia. Pope Paul VI bestowed the title of Basilica Minor on the National Shrine of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in 1964.

Slovakia The Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Traditions, Customs and Activities

Every year a pilgrimage is dedicated to the feast. The event comes to a close on September 16 with a pilgrimage of senior and disabled people. There are yearly large pilgrimages in Šaštín, especially on Pentecost and the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

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Costa Rica Independence Day: September 15

Costa Rica celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

Every year on September 15, Costa Rica’s Independence Day celebrations commemorate freedom from Spanish rule in 1821.

Costa Rica Independence Day History

Under Spanish rule, Costa Rica became a part of the kingdom of Guatemala from 1570 forward. Costa Rica’s inaccessibility from Guatemala City and because of its lack of natural resources it received little attention from the other provinces of Central America. The Spanish conquerors pretty much left the territory on its own devices. Costa Ricans therefore depended to farming that caters only for their own consumption. Costa Rica continued to play a minor role in the kingdom of Guatemala until the growth of tobacco as a major export. Guatemalan authorities later gave Costa Rica some importance because of its contribution in the production of commercial grade tobacco.

In 1821, Costa Rica joined the other Central American provinces in declaring independence from Spain. Costa Rica spent a brief time in the Mexican Empire of AgustĂ­n de Iturbide. Later Costa Rica became a state in the Federal Republic of Central America from 1823 to 1839. As the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes caused much of the region’s turbulent history and conditions.

Costa Rica’s membership in the Federal Republic of Central America was short lived because in 1838 Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign as the Central American Federation was no longer performing its function.

Costa Rica Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

The people of Costa Rica celebrate Independence Day with much fun and merriment. The national holiday is marked by nationalistic parades and musical performances by the students in the community. Celebrations start a night before Independence Day with a parade of homemade lanterns that symbolizes the day when the news arrived in Costa Rica at nighttime.

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El Salvador Independence Day: September 15

El Salvador celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

El Salvador finally claimed its freedom after the Central American Independence Act was signed on September 15, 1821 ending the 300 years of Spanish rule.

El Salvador Independence Day History

A Spanish expedition led by Andrés Niño entered the Bay of Fonseca in 1522. The Spanish began their conquest of the region in 1524. It was led by a daring conquistador named Captain Pedro de Alvarado. Alvarado who earlier accompanied Hernán Cortés to Mexico, then orchestrated the conquest of Guatemala in 1524. Alvarado was wounded after a month of bloody skirmishes and he retreated to Guatemala. His brother Gonzalo together with his cousin Diego finished what Alvarado has started. In 1528, Diego established the city of San Salvador.

El Salvador was part of the Kingdom of Guatemala under the Spanish rule. Spain made San Salvador a separate political unit in 1786. Following the increased economic and political status, Salvadoran Creoles, those colonists who were born in the Americas but came from a Spanish descent, felt bitter about the continued influence of Guatemala’s ruling class and its clergy.

Spain’s influence on its colonies was severely weakened as a result of the European wars. San Salvador became the center of liberal opinion during the decline of Spain’s power. Creoles in San Salvador clamored for freedom from Spanish rule. A Salvadoran priest, José Matías Delgado, led a rebellion of Creoles in 1811. Conservative forces from Guatemala loyal to Spain mercilessly repelled the rebellion. This only incensed the Creoles more and thus increasing Salvadoran hostility.

Manuel Jose Arce, Jose Simeon Canas and Jose Matias Delgado signed the declaration of independence in 1821. These men gave the first cry of independence on November 5 of 1811 in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Delgado was elected president in 1823.

El Salvador Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Parades are the most important part for the Independence Day celebrations and these parades last the whole day. The youth want the celebrations to be a memorable experience, so the schools start by making bands months before the celebration. Then at the end of the day, fireworks light up the night skies of El Salvador.

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Guatemala Independence Day: September 15

Guatemala celebrates Independence Day.

The citizens of the United Kingdom of Guatemala announced their sovereignty and independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.

Guatemala Independence Day History

From 1811 to 1818, Captain General José de Bustamante ruled the Kingdom of Guatemala. He suppressed all attempts toward independence thus preserving the region’s allegiance to Spain. King Ferdinand VII was restored to the Spanish throne after the French were defeated in Spain in 1814. However, a revolt ensued around 1820 in Spain thereby restoring the constitution of 1812. During this period local election campaigns followed in Central America and an intense political rivalry emerged between the liberal and the conservative factions of the elite.

Guatemala was fortunate to have gained independence from Spain without much blood being spilt compared to the wars that occurred to most countries of Latin America. On September 15, 1821, a council of distinquished personages in Guatemala City proclaimed independence from Spain and they formed a government with Gabino de Gainza, as the chief executive.

Honduran lawyer and scholar José Cecilio del Valle, promptly attempted to integrate Guatemala into the Mexican Empire in January 1822. Opposition from the provinces soon turned into an ugly civil war, but it ended as quickly as it began when Iturbide’s government in Mexico soon collapsed.

Guatemala Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

In the days leading up to Independence Day, most of the country’s schools, buildings and buses are decorated with nationalistic images. The students form assemblies as they sing the national anthem. Customarily the Guatemalan army have a traditional military parade and air shows, usually for the review of the President. Many Guatemalans take this time to visit traditional tourist areas to watch the ongoing celebrations.

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Honduras Independence Day: September 15

Honduras celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

Every year on the 15th of September, Honduras celebrates its Independence Day.

Honduras Independence Day History

Christopher Columbus reached the coast of Honduras on his fourth and final expedition to the New World in 1502. Columbus landed in close proximity to the modern town of Trujillo. Honduras became an addition to Spain’s vast empire in the New World. The first city-capitals were Trujillo and Gracias. For approximately three centuries, the Spanish ruled the New World region.

Hernán Cortés, widely known as the conqueror of Mexico, travelled to Honduras in 1525 to solidify Spain’s claim on the territory. With the discovery of gold, the region turned into the center of armed struggle for many years. Lempira, a Native American chief defied the Spaniards and gave them considerable headache and setbacks in their conquest of the region. Lempira’s daring defiance encouraged later developments toward freedom and his name was the origin of the monetary unit of the country.

The fight for independence was spearheaded by Francisco Morazán. On September 15 1821, Spain granted independence to Honduras along with the rest of the Central American provinces.

Independence from Mexico came in 1823, following the entry of Honduras into the United Provinces of Central America. Soon the federation came under threat from the friction between the Liberal and the Conservative factions. The Liberals preferred republicanism, more liberal trade, less government intervention and the elimination of the Catholic clergy’s influence on the state’s affairs. The Conservatives on the other hand, defended the clergy; they favored a return to the rule of a monarchy, they were more conventional and basically pro-Spanish in their point of view.

Honduras Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

In Honduras, the people celebrate Independence Day passionately. Schools and colleges stay closed for the celebrations and children participate enthusiastically in music and dancing. Independence Day is marked by three days of celebrations and. Every year schools participate in a contest to determine which can exhibit the most prominent or distinctive presentation. Kindergartens parade on September 13, elementary schools on September 14, and high schools on September 15.

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Nicaragua Independence Day: September 15

Nicaragua celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

Every year on September 15, Nicaragua’s Independence Day celebrations commemorate its freedom from Spanish rule in 1821.

Nicaragua Independence Day History

Colonies in the New World threatened Spain’s dominance in the early 1800s when the struggle for national independence spread throughout the entire region like a wild forest fire. Spain was weakened by the French invasion in 1794 and by its own domestic problems. Spain’s poor Central American territories were disregarded further as Spain tried to hold onto it’s wealthiest colonies. The Nicaraguan creoles’ resentment of the Spanish-born elite grew worse during this period. In 1811, the Province of El Salvador revolted against Spanish rule in the region. Spanish-born authorities were ousted and the creoles took their place. Violence and political rivalry engulfed the Central American colonies during the following decade even as Nicaragua refused to join the rebellion.

In 1821, under the Captaincy General of Guatemala, independence from Spain was formally declared on September 15. Initially, the captaincy general was part of the Mexican Empire under General AgustĂ­n de Iturbide. Mexico’s efforts to control the region were resisted all over Central America. El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua–declared their independence from Mexico in July 1823. In 1837, the federation finally dissolved and a Constituent Assembly officially declared Nicaragua’s independence from the United Provinces of Central America on April 30, 1838.

Nicaragua Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Below is the chronological overview of the activities in the observance of Nicaragua’s Independence Day.

September 1 – This is the start of the Central American Patrimonial Festivities, kicked off by an act of inauguration.

September 11 – A burning torch travels from Guatemala to Costa Rica, carried by feet and passed from hand to hand in every one of the countries.

September 12 – The torch is received around 9 AM by the President of the republic or by the Minister of Education. Folkloric presentations also take place in the morning.

September 13 – The torch changes hands at the southern border between the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican Ministers of Education.

September 14 – Early in the morning the flag is once more hung out to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of Central America and the battle at San Jacinto. The central act takes place on this day starting in the morning led traditionally by the President of the Republic.

September 15 – Throughout Nicaragua, the Act of Independence of Central America is read in all state schools. This ends the series of activities for the Independence Day celebrations.

Nicaragua Independence Day: September 15, 2009

Nicaragua celebrates Independence Day.

Every year on September 15, Nicaragua’s Independence Day celebrations commemorate its freedom from Spanish rule in 1821.

Nicaragua Independence Day History

Colonies in the New World threatened Spain’s dominance in the early 1800s when the struggle for national independence spread throughout the entire region like a wild forest fire. Spain was weakened by the French invasion in 1794 and by its own domestic problems. Spain’s poor Central American territories were disregarded further as Spain tried to hold onto it’s wealthiest colonies. The Nicaraguan creoles’ resentment of the Spanish-born elite grew worse during this period. In 1811, the Province of El Salvador revolted against Spanish rule in the region. Spanish-born authorities were ousted and the creoles took their place. Violence and political rivalry engulfed the Central American colonies during the following decade even as Nicaragua refused to join the rebellion.

In 1821, under the Captaincy General of Guatemala, independence from Spain was formally declared on September 15. Initially, the captaincy general was part of the Mexican Empire under General AgustĂ­n de Iturbide. Mexico’s efforts to control the region were resisted all over Central America. El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua–declared their independence from Mexico in July 1823. In 1837, the federation finally dissolved and a Constituent Assembly officially declared Nicaragua’s independence from the United Provinces of Central America on April 30, 1838.

Nicaragua Independence Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Below is the chronological overview of the activities in the observance of Nicaragua’s Independence Day.

September 1 – This is the start of the Central American Patrimonial Festivities, kicked off by an act of inauguration.

September 11 – A burning torch travels from Guatemala to Costa Rica, carried by feet and passed from hand to hand in every one of the countries.

September 12 – The torch is received around 9 AM by the President of the republic or by the Minister of Education. Folkloric presentations also take place in the morning.

September 13 – The torch changes hands at the southern border between the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican Ministers of Education.

September 14 – Early in the morning the flag is once more hung out to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of Central America and the battle at San Jacinto. The central act takes place on this day starting in the morning led traditionally by the President of the Republic.

September 15 – Throughout Nicaragua, the Act of Independence of Central America is read in all state schools. This ends the series of activities for the Independence Day celebrations.

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