EL DíA DE LOS NIñOS
Family Festival
Photos throughout the years celebrating Young Americans!
April 30 is El Día de los Niños Celebrating Young Americans, an international holiday recognizing the special role that young people play in our lives. In 1998, San Antonio was the first city in the United States to pass a resolution proclaiming Día de los Niños as a day for children. It was especially important for young Latinos, as this has been a holiday in Mexico since 1925, and our activities are designed to reinforce culture. Led by then City Councilman, now Senator José Menendez, the first national event was held at Main Plaza and City Hall and attended by representatives from throughout the U.S. They came to San Antonio to honor the young people of our country and learn how to organize their own festival. While national events are held in Washington, D.C., San Antonio continues its own celebration. Previously held at Hemisfair Park, schools, libraries, and even at the missions, the festival’s current home is Plaza Guadalupe.
Since 1998, over 200 cities, communities, schools, libraries, states, or organizations have passed resolutions declaring the day, including the U.S. Senate. The celebrations are for children of every culture and the words El Día de los Niños have been translated into over a dozen languages. Today it is a commemorative U.S. holiday, and San Antonio continues to observe the day with attention to our youngest residents.
We are celebrating several ways:
Milagros are created with messages from young people. Written on postcard size shapes of paper, each decorated “milagro” carries goals for the future and sometimes wishes for the present. The messages are displayed in different ways, but the overall exhibit becomes a powerful way to understand how young people think and feel. We will have Milagros projects in schools, churches, libraries and at the festival.
Schools are invited to celebrate May 1-5 by making Milagros, studying the cultural and historic connection of Texas to Mexico including the contributions of Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín and other Texans to Cinco de Mayo or exploring the great works of San Antonians such as Jesse Trevino.
A cultural festival will take place May 6, 10am-2pm at Plaza Guadalupe. Over 40 activities such as making your own book with an ancient Aztec binding technique, painting a mural, science activities games such as “Tirala Chancla”, ballet folklorico, embroidery, making a hat or an ojode dios, and even robotic demonstrations from local schools. Activities are planned for all ages and the entire family.
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Participate in the Exhibit May 6.