It’s Civic Week here in El Salvador. It’s also Civic Week in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua because September 15, 1821 is when all of these countries declared independence from Spain. El Salvador was explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. The country broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union consisting of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua named the Federal Republic of Central America. Nicaragua seceded in 1838 followed shortly by El Salvador. El Salvador joined the Greater Republic of Central America in 1896 with Honduras and Nicaragua. That Republic later dissolved in 1898.
In school the kids have been learning about each of the countries in the Federal Republic of Central America. There have been presentations in the morning that last a little over an hour about each of the countries. Thursday, September 8 we learned about Guatemala. Friday we learned about Honduras. And today we learned about Nicaragua. So today I’m going to write a little bit about Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Guatemala
Flag- The flag of Guatemala features two colors: sky blue and white. The two sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean; and the sky over the country (see Guatemala's National Anthem). The white color signifies peace and purity.
Coat of arms- In the center of the flag is the Guatemalan coat of arms. It includes the Resplendent Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala that symbolizes liberty; a parchment scroll bearing the date of Central America’s independence from Spain, September 15, 1821; crossed rifles, indicating Guatemala’s willingness to defend itself by force if need be; a bay laurel crown, the symbol for victory; and crossed swords, representing honor.
Bird- Quetzal
Flower- Monja Blanca (White Nun Orchid)
Tree- Ceiba
Motto- “País de la Eterna Primavera” (Country of the Eternal Spring)
Anthem- Himno Nacional de Guatemala (Nation Anthem of Guatemala)
Capital- Guatemala City
Guatemala's flag
Guatemala's Coat of arms
Quetzal - Guatemala national bird
Monja Blanca - Guatemala national flower
Ceiba - Guatemala national tree
Honduras Flag- The flag consists of three horizontal bands of equal width. The two outer cerulean bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The inner white band represents the land between the ocean and the sea and the peace and prosperity of its people. The five cerulean five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America.
Coat of arms- The coat of arms of Honduras features the text in Spanish “Republic of Honduras, Free, Sovereign and Independent,” topped with a cornucopia, a quiver of arrows, flanked by deciduous trees and limestone cliffs, with a Masonic eye at the center.
Bird- Guacamaya (Scarlet Macaw)
Flower- Brassavola (Orchid)
Tree- Pino (Pine tree)
Motto- “Libre, Soberana e Independiente” (Free, Sovereign, and Independent)
Anthem- Himno Nacional de Honduras (National Anthem of Honduras)
Capital- Tegucigalpa
Coat of arms- The coat of arms of Honduras features the text in Spanish “Republic of Honduras, Free, Sovereign and Independent,” topped with a cornucopia, a quiver of arrows, flanked by deciduous trees and limestone cliffs, with a Masonic eye at the center.
Bird- Guacamaya (Scarlet Macaw)
Flower- Brassavola (Orchid)
Tree- Pino (Pine tree)
Motto- “Libre, Soberana e Independiente” (Free, Sovereign, and Independent)
Anthem- Himno Nacional de Honduras (National Anthem of Honduras)
Capital- Tegucigalpa
Honduras' flag
Honduras' coat of arms
Guacamaya - Honduras national bird
Brassavola - Honduras national flower
Pino - Honduras national tree
Nicaragua
Flag- It is based on the flag of the Federal Republic of Central America and inspired by the Argentine flag. It has a horizontal bicolor triband of blue and white, with the national coat of arms centered on the middle band. Coat of arms- The coat of arms contains the words “Republica de Nicaragua, America Central” around a triangle. Inside the triangle, the 5 volcanoes represent the original 5 member states of the Federal Republic of Central America, the Cap of Liberty represents national freedom, and the rays of the sun and the rainbow are symbolic of the bright future.
Bird- Guardabarranco (also called a torogoz)
Flower- Sacuanjoche
Tree- Madroño
Motto- “En Dios Confiamos” (In God We Trust)
Anthem- “Salve a ti, Nicaragua” (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
Capital- Managua
Nicaragua's flag
Nicaragua's coat of arms
Guardabarranco - Nicaragua national bird
Sacuanjoche
Madroño - Nicaragua national tree
1 comment:
Very interesting history of the region. I like how all the flags are blue and white to represent the oceans on either sides. They all have such beautiful birds, flowers, and trees.
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