The Sandinista Revolution Day
Sandinista Revolution Day is a national holiday observed annually in Nicaragua on the 19th of July. This holiday commemorates the 1979 defeat of the Somoza dictatorship. For approximately four and a half decades, Nicaragua was headed by a hereditary dictatorship backed by the United States government due to its anti-communist stance.
Nicaragua (National holiday)The rule of these dictatorships was accused of human rights violations, which created significant unrest in the country. On July 19th, 1979, Sandinista soldiers defeated the National Guard. Although this did not result in the country being more stable than before, in the minds of Nicaragua’s citizens, it was a cause for celebration because they removed such a long-standing tyrannical reign.
The History of Sandinista Revolution Day in Nicaragua
The head of Nicaragua’s army, Anastasio Somoza GarcÃa, deposed elected President Juan Bautista Sacasa and then installed himself as President of the country. This created what was essentially a hereditary dictatorship that would pass down to two of his sons after he was assassinated in 1956.
The second son of Anastasio Somoza GarcÃa, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, became the President of Nicaragua. His style of governing was extremely strict and tyrannical, which led to human rights violations. This increased discontent in the country and hastened the actions of a socialist revolutionary group known as the Sandinista Liberation Front.
On the 19th of July in 1979, Sandinista soldiers ended up toppling Somoza, and as a result, Somoza fled to Paraguay. It was there that he was assassinated in 1980. The events of July 19th, 1979, immediately became a holiday observed as a national holiday every year since.
Observing Sandinista Revolution Day in Nicaragua
This holiday is observed with political speeches, military parades, and festivals all across Nicaragua. It is a national holiday, so it is a day off for the general population, and most businesses, schools, banks, and non-essential government offices are closed on this day. It is also a holiday on which people visit with friends and family members to enjoy native Nicaraguan cuisines such as Gallo Pinto, Nacatamales, Quesillo, and Rondon.
Nicaragua (National holiday)
