In America, there’s Christmas in the winter, Independence Day in summer, Halloween in fall, and more holidays throughout the whole year. Still, in many places around the world, festivals both big and small are the most special ‘holidays.’ Many of these festivals are held in Latin America, and take place at different times throughout the year.
Many of these festivals celebrate the town itself or certain religious practices. For example, one religious festival special to El Salvador is the Fiestas Patronales de San Miguel Arcángel in Guazapa. The festival is held in honor of the Archangel of San Miguel, featuring music, food stands, and traditional drinks.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the festival is the local community’s participation. The tight-knit community is core to each celebration, and many of the people of Guazapa even invite tourists to join in the festivities.
“They’re so fun, I love how everyone invited me to dance with them,” said Allison Moreno Lara, 10.
While America doesn’t have as many traditional festivals as Latin America, there are still many ways to enjoy a celebration of some kind with the Latin community here at home. One fun way to celebrate is participating in the many Jaripeos, a largely Mexican tradition that is a form of rodeo.
Many of these Jaripeos are filled with people from the Latin community wearing denim, cowboy hats, flowing maxi dresses, or embroidered corsets, dancing, and engaging in bull riding, or even enjoying live music from some renowned artists. It is one of the best ways to experience these events, especially when friends are involved.
“It could be stressful, but I think it is very fun that people express themselves like that with that type of music,” said Gisselle Ramirez, Spanish teacher.
Another invaluable experience is the RHS Culture Day. Every year, RHS hosts a celebration of the diverse cultures represented within the school. One of the popular cultures celebrated is Hispanic Heritage.
“The girls who put on the Tesoros Hispanos – they’re so pretty with those flowing dresses,” said Jennifer Longstreth, ESOL teacher.
With so much going on, all of these events are amazing ways to commemorate one of the largest ethnicities in our community, and by celebrating it, we are celebrating our lives as individuals.
