Does anyone know that five of the seven countries that are part of Central America were under Spanish and Mexican rules?
The countries are Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Each gained independence from Spain in 1821, were separated from Mexico in 1823 and after creating the Federal Republic of Central America each nation gained its own independence afterwards.
Since then, the five countries have been commemorating the breakaway from Spain each Sept. 15.
Mexico, on the other hand, has been doing so each Sept. 16.
Here in Brownsville, a group of Central Americans under an organization called Manos y Raices de mi Tierra, or Hands and Roots from my homeland, will mark the 204th anniversary with a Central American Independence Day fiesta.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13, at Brownsville Linear Park, on the same day the weekly farmers’ market takes place.
“We are doing Saturday, September 15 falls on Monday,” Silvia Black, a member of the organization, said. “We are inviting the public to come over and learn about our heritage.”
She said the consuls from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala were invited to the event.
Black said folkloric dances, regional music and poetry will be presented at the event.
Among some of food items that will be available are pupusas from Guatemala, gallo pinto from Nicaragua, horchata from Honduras and chuchitos from Guatemala.
Black said a parade of the flags from each of the five countries will be held that is free to the public.
And yes, the five countries were part of the First Mexican Empire under Emperor Agustin de Iturbide.
Mexico gained independence from Spain on Sept. 1810, and celebrates the occasion each Sept. 16.
