Honduran Independence Day on Utila
A rainy beginning to Independence Day ceremonies
Everyone has a part in the festivities
Exuberance – that’s the word that came to mind watching the young people as they practiced in the school yards and lanes, as they waited for their chance to strut their stuff before the packed bleachers at the soccer stadium, as they played before the crowd of applauding parents, relatives and friends. Independence Day on Utila was indeed an occasion for celebration.
Independence Day in Honduras – Marching bands with drums and glockenspiels
The school bands, and each school possesses its own band, practiced in earnest for several weeks before Flag Day on September 6 and Independence Day on September 15. The bands began practice before the school day, sometimes well before 7:00 AM and continued with unflagging energy after school and well into the evening, often until 10:00 PM.
Waiting their turn to perform
These marching bands, consisting exclusively of percussion instruments – snare drums, base drums, glockenspiels, cymbals, shakers – epitomize the economic reality of the nation. The instruments are relatively low-cost and low maintenance; they can be mastered in a reasonable amount of time by enthusiastic students of various ages, can be carried individually in marching bands and do not require auditoriums for practice or public performances.
Preparing to present the colors
Much like in the US, there was a passing nod to history during the day’s parades, picnics, boxing matches and the greased pole climbing competition. The context for Independence Day, September 15th, is rather convoluted and in addition to Honduras, includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. On this day in 1821 these four colonies of Spain declared independence in their Congress of Central America. Reading between the lines, it appears that these countries piggy-backed off the success of the twenty plus years of freedom fighting that was just concluding at the time in Mexico. Following independence, there was a brief alliance with Mexico, under the Federal Republic of Central America, which ended in mutual rancor in 1838.
Bird’s eye view of the parades & hoopla
At the end of a long day of festivities, when all the Independence Day marchers had gone home and all the instruments were put away, the night was quiet. What was surprising to us was the extent to which we missed the sound of the percussion instruments that same evening when we retired. We were accustomed to dropping off to sleep to the sound of the rhythms. Nothing like a soothing glockenspiel to bring on the nods…
Parade Rest
By Richard and Anita, September, 2013
No Particular Place To Go 