Every year on the 20th of July, schools around the country of Honduras celebrate their national hero, Lempira. He was a warrior in the 1500’s for one of the native people groups, the Lencas. He led the fight against the Spanish armies who were trying to conquer yet another piece of the earth for themselves. Lempira managed to hold off the advances of the Spanish conquistador’s in 1537 for a number of months, and he was able to do this by bringing together and unifying 200 opposing Lenca tribes. He was killed in battle later that year and his people surrendered. But he is regarded as a great native Honduran hero and is celebrated as such.
Combined with this celebration is a day of national identity. Mothers of school children buy new material and hand make dresses for the girls to wear, representing the style of each of the 18 departments, or states, of Honduras. This work by the mothers is a sacrifice of both time and finances. They can spend weeks and over $100 making one dress. They have embroidered designs and painted scenes. The boys wear costumes that may include a white shirt with a red bandana and a cowboy hat, or a loincloth representing Lempira.
There are also samples of food representing each of the departments-another job that falls on the m
others, with the help of their kids. It usually requires working all night before the event to finish every detail.
What a celebration! But now its time to get back to math and science.
Rural Honduras 