The Salvadoran community gathered this Saturday to commemorate Salvadoran Day in the United States, a celebration that recognizes and honors the traditions, culture and contributions of all Salvadorans who consider Los Angeles their second home.

August 6 was declared Salvadoran Day in the United States through a resolution approved by Congress on July 18, 2006. However, the initiative was born in Los Angeles in 1999 with the purpose of recognizing the contribution of the Salvadoran community and preserving its cultural traditions.

“Today we not only gather as a community, but also as bearers of a living history, of an identity that transcends borders and generations,” said UNICOMDES USA Executive Director Wendy Carolina Villalta, welcoming the community. “Our theme this year is Salvadoran cultural heritage; it is a call and a reminder that we must ensure that young people are responsible for following our culture and encourage them to be guardians of it.”

This year, the celebration marks more than 27 years of history; Each edition brings together thousands of people to enjoy their roots, their culture, their gastronomy and dozens of family activities.

Preserving culture in difficult times

That Saturday, Salvadoran culture was present in every corner of the event: in the aroma of freshly made pupusas, in the sound of traditional music and in the costumes of the attendees, who proudly wore the blue and white colors, the same as their beloved flag. And it is not a surprise to see the number of Salvadorans who attend the event each year, since in Los Angeles the population of Salvadorans is more than 200,000 people.

“Los Angeles is the place where there are the most Salvadorans outside our borders, and the city has always been, since the 80s, the home of many Salvadorans,” said Alejandro Letona, the consul general of El Salvador in Los Angeles, before cutting the ribbon that would begin the celebrations. “And it is important to keep the culture alive, but more than that, to transmit our roots and traditions to the new generations of Salvadorans who are born here in the United States.”

Among the group of participants was Lyanne Gabriel Hernández, one of the dancers who opened the ceremony with a beautiful traditional folk dance from El Salvador. The 34-year-old said that, for her, it is also very important to encourage generations, like hers and others, to feel proud of where they come from.

“I believe that, as the first generation born in the United States, it is my responsibility to practice, preserve and honor my culture,” said Hernández while wearing her costume and carrying blue and white flowers. “Especially in times like today, where being Latino for some is a sign of being a bad person, right now we are a target for immigration.”

“But it is important not to lose our pride in where we come from, because that is what makes us special,” he added.

Last year, the festival could not take place, as immigration raids caused panic among the community, so several public events were canceled for security reasons. Although immigration raids have not stopped in the city, they have not occurred as frequently as last summer, which helped the festival take place this year.

“I think it's easy to see that many of us are still moving with caution, but I feel like we have a lot of power as a community and being with all these people makes me feel safe,” Hernández said.

From generation to generation

As you toured the festival, you could see the community enjoying some delicious pupusas, crowning them with a mountain of curtido and salsa to taste. Others cooled off with a traditional salad fresco, a drink that contains different fruits and can calm any heat of the day. While others took the floor and danced to the rhythm of various singers such as Marisol Estrada and Gigi Escobar.

One of the many families that attended the festival was a man who preferred not to share his name, but was happy to be able to talk about his love for his country and how special this festival is for him and his family. He, his daughter and his wife were dressed in El Salvador t-shirts and carried their little Salvadoran flag.

“The food is our favorite part; our first round was some fresh salad, chorizos and a giant pupusa, but we're just getting started,” said the dad, with a smile on his face. “We are enjoying the day and, as parents, we brought our daughter because we try to instill in her everything that is Salvadoran culture, and this event is already a tradition for us.”

For many participants, the event also represents an opportunity to keep Salvadoran traditions alive, even after immigrating to the United States.

"Now is a very special day; I am very proud to be Salvadoran. As you can see, I practice traditional dance," said Julia Aguirre, one of the members of the Ballet Folklorico Manantial group. "There are many who cannot return to our country; this day is also for them, to feel a little closer to our land, to feel united and proud of being Salvadorans."

The festival, which was organized by UNICOMDES USA (Communities Unit of El Salvador), consists of two days of fun and celebration that run until Sunday, August 9 on Venice Boulevard.

If you visit the event, you can expect traditional food, games for children, and traditional dances, presented by groups such as the Manantial Folkloric Ballet and the Pipiles Folkloric Ballet. You can also find artisans who sell products from El Salvador.

“Come enjoy everything that El Salvador has to offer you, this is not only for the Salvadoran community, but we also invite all other people to come and get to know and connect with our people and our culture,” said Villalta.

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