The celebrations begin the night before, on the 14th of September — called La Noche de las Banderas (The Night of Flags). Students carry flaming torches through the streets in special marches called antorchas (torch runs), passing the flame from town to town across the country. The idea is that the flame travels through all of Nicaragua overnight, arriving in the capital Managua in the morning.
On the 15th, the parades begin. School bands march through the streets playing patriotic music, majorettes twirl batons and flags, and students in crisp uniforms march in neat rows. Parents line the streets cheering. The sound of drums and brass instruments echoes off the buildings.
Nicaragua's flag is blue and white — two blue stripes with a white stripe in the middle. At the centre of the white stripe is the national coat of arms, which shows a triangle of mountains, a rainbow, and the words 'República de Nicaragua'. The blue represents the Pacific and Caribbean oceans on either side of the country, and the white represents peace.
After the parade, families often gather for a big meal. Schools hold special assemblies where children learn about their country's history and the importance of being Nicaraguan. It is a proud day — and the students who get to march in the parade, especially those chosen to carry the school flag, remember it for years.