Independence Day at Casa Bernabé
WRITTEN BY EMILY TUTTLE
Guatemala recently celebrated their 204th Independence Day, and Casa Bernabé showed up for the celebration. Few nations' people have as much pride and joy in their homeland and heritage as Guatemala. It's an exquisitely beautiful country with deep traditions that are still widely practiced today.
Every September, Guatemala bursts into celebration, and Casa Bernabé is no exception. Though the national holiday falls on September 15, we held our celebration at the school on September 12 so everyone could fully enjoy the festivities.
Guatemala’s Independence Day is rich in tradition. Across the country, people gather for:
Colorful parades filled with traditional music and dances
Civic ceremonies where children perform cultural presentations
Fireworks, folk costumes, and the national marimba
A moving tradition called "La Antorcha de Independencia" where torchbearers run from town to town, commemorating the news of Guatemala’s independence in 1821
Our celebration was truly a community effort and a labor of love. Every class, from the Pre-K kids to the oldest students, prepared something special. For days beforehand, everyone came together to decorate the campus in blue and white. Our party decorating Vocational Program class built a balloon arch, flags were hung, and routines were practiced. Everyone got dressed up in their traditional Guatemalan clothing, the older girls braided all the younger girls' hair, and the boys donned their straw hats.
In front of a crowd of school parents and visitors from the local community, each grade performed a unique dance, wearing traditional outfits and using handmade props lovingly crafted with the help of our dedicated house parents. Several students shared poems they wrote, and one of the girls from Casa Ester even bravely recited hers from memory.
The day was also full of classic Guatemalan dishes:
Tamales, tostadas, pepián, mole, elote, frijoles y arroz
Traditional sweets like atol, choco bananas, and Guatemalan candy
A student favorite called granizada – shaved ice with lime juice and Tajín
Our older kids took charge of the granizada station, making hundreds of servings throughout the day. Meanwhile, Casa Nueva Esperanza's house dad, Mario, manned the grill full of sizzling carne asada. It was truly a feast!
We recreated Guatemala’s iconic torch run. A group of students and staff drove 5K off-campus, lit their torches, and proudly ran them back home dressed in Guatemalan soccer jerseys and waving flags.
With cars decorated in blue and white driving beside them, offering encouragement and water breaks, the runners made their way through cheers and fireworks. Upon arriving at Casa Bernabé, more children joined for the final stretch from the gate to the soccer field.
We ended with a flag-raising ceremony and sang the Guatemalan national anthem—a powerful moment of unity and thankfulness for the beautiful country God has placed us in.
And if you've never heard the Guatemalan national anthem performed, you're missing out. It's one of the longest national anthems in the world, and the kids proudly stand and sing every word. (You'll be glad you wore comfortable shoes if you're ever at a civic celebration in Guatemala, because it goes on for verse after verse!)
From handmade huipiles to dances depicting coffee and corn harvests, from poems about marimbas to the colorful barriletes (kites) soaring across the campo, every detail pointed to pride in their identity and joy in their community.
For our kids who sometimes don't get to experience all that their beautiful country has to offer because they spend most of their lives within the walls of Casa Bernabé, this celebration is a reminder of Guatemala’s rich history, deep traditions, and diverse people. As our children explore and express their heritage, they are also learning their value as individuals created in God’s image—with unique gifts, stories, and a future full of hope.