The battle took place on September 14, coincidentally one day before the independence celebrations. Currently, September is celebrated as a patrimonial month, and throughout whole Nicaragua people hang out the blue and white flags at their houses.
The commemorative activities start at schools and institutions the first of the month. Below follows a chronological overview of the activities. September 1 — start of the Central American Patrimonial Festivities, initiated by an act of inauguration. Place and exact date vary every year generally September 1, though. Besides officials from the Nicaraguan government, ambassadors from the Central American sister republics also participate, as well as hundreds of students from the capital.
Schools participate with their marching bands. September 11 — every year, during the patrimonial month, a burning torch travels through Central America, from Guatemala to Costa Rica, transported by feet and going from hand to hand in every one of the countries. The torch then starts to travel the country over the Pan American Highway, and it goes from hand to hand by the best students from the schools of each municipality and other outstanding individuals who will each run with the torch for no more than meters.
The total run is kilometers and it involves more than 8 thousand students. September 12 — this day, at 9 AM, the torch is received, generally at the National Cultural Palace, by the President of the republic or by the Minister of Education accompanied by other government officials. Folkloric events take place in the morning as well.
This day, at 6 PM, the national flag will be hung out in all educational centers and principal institutions. Furthermore, the national anthem is broadcasted in the media and performed throughout the country.
September 14 — at 6 AM the flag is once more hung out commemorating the anniversary of the independence of Central America and the battle at San Jacinto. This day the central act takes place, starting in the morning and led generally by the President of the Republic. Several years ago, the act took place at the National Stadium , but this limited the number of spectators.
In the past years the event therefore took place around the Masaya Highway or in the old center of Managua. During this event, the Presidential Medallion is awarded to the best students and teachers from the country. Furthermore, a parade is formed by schools from the capital approximately 15, students with the marching bands as well as bands from the National Army and the Police.
September 15 — the Act of Independence of Central America is read in all state schools throughout Nicaragua, in an act of commemoration. This final event ends the series of activities related to the battle at Hacienda San Jacinto and the Nicaraguan independence.
These activities now take place on different dates throughout the year, during other months than September.
These bands are groups that combine music and choreographic rhythms, composed of students from schools from throughout Nicaragua. Every group represents its school and is selected during departmental contests. The groups compete in front of a juror who will choose the best musical group of the country.
The finale of the festival takes place at the National Stadium in Managua, and is open to the public. That is why we celebrate this Independence by committing ourselves to overcoming divisions and violent and selfish attitudes, this implies a true conversion of our way of thinking, which implies a conversion of the heart, that we see ourselves as brothers, so that together we can build a new society, motivated by charity and solidarity".
The tension between the government and the Catholic Church also continues during the civil celebrations of the Bicentennial across the country. Two days ago, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, denounced the growing attack on freedoms in Nicaragua, ahead of the on November 7 elections, with at least 36 arbitrary arrests, the invalidation of candidacies and the cancellation of political parties.
Nicaraguans, Bachelet stressed, have the right to run for president, to participate in the campaign and the media must follow the process, but "none of this is happening", he lamented in his updated report on the country before the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. The High Commissioner indicated that the 20 arrested in connection with the elections, which had already denounced in June, were joined by another 16, "among politicians, human rights defenders, businessmen, journalists and peasant leaders or students".
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