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Capital: San Jose
http://adventure-costarica.com/travel/costa_rica_general_information/cultural_events_festivals.htm

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Capital: Mexico City
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ws909

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Capital : Havana
https://www.cubagrouptour.com/information/cuba/events/festivals-and-special-events-in-cuba.html

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Capital:Montevideo
Arianna https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/central-and-south-america/uruguay/festivals-and-events

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Capital: Panama City
https://youtu.be/PR4T5jQUPe8

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Capital: Tegucigalpa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EQ6nGkN8KM

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Andre (Capital: Buenos Aires)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina

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Capital: Asunción
https://www.visitparaguay.net/paraguay-guide/paraguay-festivals.html

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Capital: Santiago
http://www.fiestaspatrias.org/what-is.html

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Capital:  Santo  Domingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBa9zqycyAk

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Capital:  Managua
A holiday is Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,  All Souls Day,  and Independence Day of Nicaragua
Here's a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ZLfGZv5_Q

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Capital: Malabo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5BJ5b-rgls

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Capital :

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The Festival of the Lord Jesus of Great Power, usually known as El Gran Poder, is a religious celebration that takes place in the city of La Paz in the Andean Altiplano in Bolivia. It takes place every year on a Saturday at the end of May or beginning of June. A huge parade of dancers moves along a several-kilometer-long route in the city center. This festival takes place in homage to the representation of the Lord Jesus that is worshipped on this day in the church of San Antonio Gallardo.

Huge devotion is expressed during this festival. Actually it is the most important festival of the year in La Paz. Spectators take their chairs or buy a spot in the stands that are set up along the parade route in order to watch the parade and enjoy the dances, bands and stands selling food and beverages typical of the region. Currently 53 folkloric fraternities participate in the parade with 30,000 dancers and 4000 musicians.
The "preste":
The name of the event and of the person who organizes and finances the fraternity's private party celebrated the following day is El "preste." A hall is rented for the party, and a typical dish is served to the participants. Several bands are hired to play music at the party which lasts all day Sunday. This type of event could cost between $8,000 and $15,000, a significant amount when we know that the minimum salary in Bolivia is around 100 Euros per month. Each fraternity accepts temporary dancers, but most of them dance for several years, some even for generations. The "permanent" members have to take the role of preste at least once in order to be considered a prestigious and respected person. Each member tries to outdo the previous preste. The more complete and luxurious the party, the more the group admires and respects the preste. This way the savings accumulated for several years are spent in one, two or three days, because sometimes the party continues through Tuesday.

This custom shows an Andean view of distribution of wealth like in the communities in the Altiplano of the Andes where reciprocity is fundamental to the well-being of society. It is referred to as Ayni which means "today for you and tomorrow for me" in the Aymara language. The preste is a type of economic reciprocity with the dance fraternity as well as with God since the dancers parade to ask protection of the Lord and fulfillment of their wishes or projects.

The Festival of the Gran Poder is a symbol of religious unification that mixes Catholic traditions with Aymara customs. For example, the night before the parade, the participants make their promise to the Lord, committing themselves to dance for three consecutive years so their wishes may become reality. This promise is accompanied by a ceremony to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) wherein a set of objects made of sugar is burned as an offering to request protection during the celebration of Gran Poder and for daily life.
History of the Day of Gran Poder:
The expression Gran Poder comes from the belief that God is love and that love generates a power that destroys all obstacles.

The festival originated on December 8, 1663, when the Sheltering Mothers (Madres Concebiditas) convent was established. According to the story, the candidates must bring an image to the convent with them. A nun named Genoveva Carrión brought an image of the Lord with three faces that caused a controversy.

In 1904 a worshiper decided to cut the image which to date only shows one face. After this act, many devotees received favors from the Lord, which is how veneration of the image spread. The image passed by the houses on Mercado, Yungas and Figueroa streets and the Iglesia del Rosario church. Then it was moved to San Leo Barra where a devout family began the homage to the image with visits and prayers scheduled for Tuesday and Friday.

Over time, the numbers of the faithful grew, and in 1928 building began on a church in the Chijini neighborhood which today is Gallardo street. The work was completed at the end of 1930.
Beginning of the parade:
In 1923 the first demonstrations of popular dance appeared on Illampu street where the shops were located for embroidering folkloric dance costumes. The Chuquimiay and Gisbert families were among the most influential, and their initiative began the first celebrations in honor of the Lord.

In 1924 the first parade of Diablada dancers appeared, and a group of bootblacks called the "Cebollitas" (Little Onions) danced the Suri Sikuri.

In the 30s and 40s, groups from the Yungas began to join the parade and added drums to the dances. In 1952 the party became a departmental event with a huge dance parade in La Paz. At that time the idea of a more organized and significant parade arose. Organization of the event had support from a priest named Camacho who organized the practices at night from Buenos Aires Avenue through the intersection of Gallardo Segurola.

On January 25, 1969, the Caporales dance was created in the Chijini neighborhood as an act of devotion to the Lord of the Gran Poder. Finally on May 12, 1974, the Association of folkloric groups was founded, turning the event into a national festival that is celebrated annually in the city of La Paz still today.

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The Festival of the Lord Jesus of Great Power, usually known as El Gran Poder, is a religious celebration that takes place in the city of La Paz in the Andean Altiplano in Bolivia. It takes place every year on a Saturday at the end of May or beginning of June.

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Capital: Lima
https://activeadventures.com/inspiration/blog/peruvian-festivals/ go to number 9 or read them all.

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la paz, sucre
https://info.handicraft-bolivia.com/Senor-del-Gran-Poder-Holiday-a393

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Capital: Madrid

https://www.tripsavvy.com/traditional-festivals-in-spain-1644314

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I am sure that you have all seen the Spanish flag at some point in your lives, but just in case, this is what it looks like:

I feel like we learned a lot about flags in school, like about what each color signifies. For example, the green on Ghana's flag represents the forests. The white background of Korea's flag represents peace. So I figured that the Spanish flag would have similar symbolism. Does the red represent valor or the bloodshed that created it? Does the yellow represent olive oil?

Well, the answer is no. The colors are just colors.

The battle standard of the Christian Monarchs during the Reconquista (around the 1400s) was a confusing tapestry of lions, castles, some eagles, and also some red and gold stripes. It was a mess:

Fast forward to the 1700s. Everyone in Europe was more or less constantly at war with each other for many different reasons. The flag of Spain at that time was a white background with a complex royal crest. King Carlos III noticed that most European countries have white in their flags, which made fighting each other confusing. He had a flag specially made to be unique in Europe. The colors chosen were red and gold, which was probably inspired by the battle standard of the Reconquista (I mean, they are the most consistent colors that are not white).

The current flag is based off of that flag - the one created to be less confusing.

In the center is the royal crest aka the current coat of arms.

Here there are symbols representing the various kingdoms and dynasties that have made up Spain:

The Crowns

At the top is the Spanish crown. Spain is still a monarchy today even though it dissolved in the 1940s then came back, much to the chagrin of everyone.

There are two crowns at the top of the pillars that represent both crowns that Spain has possessed. Their own crown ( royal crown) and the imperial crown. The imperial crown comes from when Carlos I (Charles I) of Spain became Holy Roman Emperor and changed his name to Carlos V(Charles V). Basically the pope said Carlos could be Holy Roman Emperor, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Which was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire. Nor did it include Spain at all. And Carlos wasn't even Spanish and didn't speak Spanish. He was also inbred as heck. In short he ruled Spain and the yellow bits on this map:

Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre

The four bits in the middle of the flag are for former kingdoms, all now-autonomous communities (self-governing bits like states). Castile and Leon has fused from 2 kingdoms to 1 autonomous community (aptly named Castile y Leon). Aragon and Navarre were both kingdoms and are now autonomous communities.

Bourbon Fleur-de-Lis (not labeled)

At the very center of the 4 former-kingdoms (not labeled on the picture) is the Bourbon Fleur-de-Lis (in the middle). Why is this French symbol on the Spanish flag?

One of Spain's kings died without an heir - there were two possible candidates: Austrian Hapsburgs and French Bourbons. The War of Spanish Succession happened and the Bourbons won. Their heir (Philip V) changed everything about Spain (borders, land, and monarchy).

Pomegranate of Granada

At the bottom is the pomegranate of Granada. Granada was the last kingdom to fall, transferring power from the Moors to the Christians. It was center of power for a while and is where the king and queen sanctioned Christopher Columbus's journey. Granada has a deep history in Spain and is, honestly, deserving of its own little bit on the flag.

Pillars of Hercules

Finally on either side are the Pillars of Hercules which, in a way, represented the end of the world for everyone inside the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean sea has only one natural entrance or exit at the Strait of Gibraltar. Conveniently, the strait of Gibraltar has two gigantic stone formations separated by a mere nine miles of water, the rock of Gibraltar and Jebel Musa in Morocco. These two formations (mountains) are the pillars.

There's a third mountain in Ceuta, which is in Africa but is Spain's enclave. So when Spain is talking about the Pillars of Hercules they're probably talking about their pillars (not Morocco's- although Morocco's is taller and was the more recognized one).

History of the Pillars of Hercules

The Phoenicians (an ancient group of super sailor people who lived near modern-day Syria) spent pretty much all of their time sailing around the Mediterranean trading with everyone. If you were an ancient Phoenician, you could easily trade with the Egyptians, the Greeks, or any of the other assortments of cultures living in Italy, Spain, or North Africa. Initially there was not much of a reason to go further, beyond the Pillars of Hercules. The Mediterranean was figuratively the center of the world (which is what it literally means in Latin), all the best cultures were based around it.

They knew there was more out there (the Phoenicians traded with the British Isles), but it just wasn't worth it. So they said that Jebel Musa (Morocco) and Gibraltar were actually two gigantic ancient pillars that Hercules created to mark the ends of the earth, and also to hold the up the sky.

Maybe they did this to mess with young sailors, or maybe to make their trading missions sound more interesting ("Yeah and then we totally sailed through the Pillars into the unknown. It was, like, super dangerous.") Either way, the name stuck.

These pillars are a common myth, you can't visit Gibraltar without hearing all about them, but what apparently nobody realizes (and y'all need to finally wake up and learn!) is that Hercules made a third (fourth?) column.... aka La Peña.

Our La Peña! Martos's claim to fame. Bet you didn't know the mountain in our backyard is holding up the damn earth.

Top Left- The greatest of the two three four pillars, La Peña

Top Right- Gibraltar

Bottom- Jebel Musa, Morocco as seen from Tarifa.

Martos (your little city) has a Pillar of Hercules?

I didn't make this up, the Romans did. I don't know why the Romans made the connection between La Peña and the Hercules myth. Maybe it was a clever advertising campaign to get more colonists from Rome- those Romans loved their Greek myths. La Peña is pretty impressive, but it doesn't mark the ends of the earth. It's not even near the sea! Regardless, La Peña is considered the third Pillar of Hercules by some locals.

Finally, going back to the flag - wrapped around the Pillars of Hercules is a banner with the words "Plvs Vltra" (Latin substitutes V for U, so... Plus Ultra). Which means "further beyond." This is Spain's official motto.

This wasn't always their motto. Before 1492ish it was "Ne Plus Ultra" which meant "nothing further beyond." This is because people from the Phoenicians to Christopher Columbus considered anything beyond the pillars worthless. Spain (which possessed Gibraltar at the time) owned both Pillars and thus controlled the end of the worthwhile-world.

Until 1492. Nothing was removed for obvious reasons. There absolutely were things further beyond. Since Spain sanctioned the journey they could claim the fame of going further beyond anyone else and "discovering" the new world and colonizing most of it.

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Spain Sunday: The Flag (and the Pillars of Hercules)

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I am sure that you have all seen the Spanish flag at some point in your lives, but just in case, this is what it looks like: I feel like we learned a lot about flags in school, like about what each...

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Capital- Caracas
https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/venezuela/articles/top-10-festivals-in-venezuela/

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Capital: Bogota

July 20-

Independence Day for Colombia   :
https://www.sarepa.com/2015/07/21/colombian-independence-day-celebrations/

- Sophia C.