Conventional Long Form: Republic of El Salvador
Capital City: San Salvador Government Type: republic Date of Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National Holidays: March/April Holy Week/Easter Semana Santa Celebrated with Carnival-like events in different cities by the large Catholic population. May 1 Labor Day Día del trabajo International Labour Day May 3 The Day of the Cross Día de la Cruz A celebration with precolonial origins, linked to the advent of the rainy season. People decorate a cross in their yards with fruit and garlands, in the belief that if they do not, the devil will appear and dance at their yard. They then go from house to house to kneel in front of the altar and make the sign of the cross. May 10 Mothers' Day Día de las Madres A day to celebrate motherhood, similar to many other countries Mother's Day. August 1–7 August Festivals* Fiestas de agosto Week-long festival in celebration of El Salvador del Mundo, patron saint of San Salvador. September 15 Independence Day Día de la Independencia Celebrates independence from Spain, achieved in 1821. October 1 Day of the children "Día del niño" Celebration dedicated to the Children of the country, celebrated across the country. October 12 Day of the race Día de la raza Celebration dedicated to Christopher Columbus' arrival in America. November 2 Day of the Dead El día de los difuntos A day when most people visit the tombs of deceased loved ones. (November 1 may be commemorated as well.) November 7–13 National Festival Of Pupusa Festival Nacional De La Pupusa This week is the national commemoration of the national food (Pupusa). November 21 Queen of the Peace Day Dia de la Reina de la Paz Day of the Queen of Peace, the patron saint. Also celebrated, the San Miguel Carnival, (carnaval de San Miguel), celebrated in San Miguel City, similar to Mardi Gras of New Orleans, where one can enjoy about 45 music bands on the street. December 25 Christmas Day (Celebrated Dec. 24th) Noche Buena In many communities, December 24 (Christmas Eve) is the major day of celebration, often to the point that it is considered the actual day of Navidad — with December 25 serving as a day of rest. December 31 New Year's Eve Fin de año The final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day is celebrated in El Salvador with family reunions. Chief of State:President Carlos Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009) Head of Government: President Carlos Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009) Executive Branch/Powers: cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014) election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7% Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 11 March 2012 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 33, FMLN 31, GANA 11, CN 7, PES 1, PCD 1 Judicial Branch/Powers: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Ambassador to the US: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes Location of El Salvador Embassy in the US: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036 Location of El Salvador's Consulates: Brentwood (New York), Boston, Chicago, Coral Gables (Florida), Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Woodbridge (Virginia) consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey) Ambassador for the US: Ambassador Sean MURPHY Location of US Embassy in El Salvador: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador Location of US Consulates in El SAlvador: NA Representative to the UN: Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli Symbolism of FLag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band National Symbols: turquoise-browed motmot (bird) National Anthem: name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador). lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE note:officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest |
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Carlos Mauricia Funes Cartagena National Symbol:
turquoise-browed motmot |