Pan American Day
On April 14, we celebrate Pan American Day, a holiday celebrated in many countries in both North and South America. But what is this holiday celebrating?
History
On April 14, 1890, we had what was known as the first meeting of American States, 18 nations met together. This resulted in the formation of the first International Conference of the United States. On April 14, 1930 President Herbert Hoover proposed Pan American Day. It was officially declared as a national holiday by President Barack Obama in 2015. Today this organization of states includes 35 independent states, coming from North America, Central America, South America, and The Caribbean.
Today the countries it consists of are; Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Savador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, The United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Celebration
The day is celebrated across the western hemisphere with parades, performances, plays, and much more! We come together to celebrate both our unity and shared values. Several other countries celebrate Pan American Day as well, though some celebrate on other days throughout the year.
How You Can Celebrate This Year:
- Take the time to learn about the many different cultures in both North and South America.
- Look up unique recipes that originated in these countries.
- Listen to music made by artists across the Western Hemisphere.
- Read more about the landscape of countries you are unfamiliar with.
More Information
For more information on Pan American Day, take a look at this message President Joe Biden sent about the holiday last year.
