MorazanĀ“s Day

Morazan’s Day is a public holiday that’s usually observed on the 3rd of October in Honduras every year. We say usually because while October 3rd is the traditional day for this holiday, this date may be moved to accommodate other important days on the holiday calendar.

For example, in 2021, it was moved to October 6th and celebrated as only a half-day.Ā This day is known officially as Francisco Morazan’s Birthday and celebrates the birthday of the politician who was the president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1830 to 1839.

Because of this day’s proximity to other public holidays on Honduras’s calendar, the entire first week of October is a good break for the residents of the country.

The History OfĀ  Morazan’s Day In Honduras

Francisco Morazan was born on October 3rd, 1792 in Tegucigalpa, which was at the time in the Captaincy General of Guatemala ā€” the Spanish Empire’s administrative district for the region. When the Captaincy became independent from Spain in 1821, Morazan would get involved in politics and would ultimately volunteer to oppose the annexation of Central America by Mexico.

In 1823, Central America split with Mexico, and Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador became unified. Jose Manuel Arce was then elected president and he supported a strong central government that worked in unison with the Catholic Church.

Morazan’s uncle Dionisio de Herrera was elected as head of state in Honduras and tried to move the country on a different path. Arce would then send troops to stop this path Honduras was taking, and Morazan would the defense.

However, he was defeated and ultimately captured. After leading a small army in Nicaragua, and capturing Honduras, Morazan became quite famous for his actions. In 1830, he was elected to serve as president of the Federal Republic of Central America.

Observing Morazan’s Day In Honduras

This holiday is observed with festivals, parades, and a number of other festivities all across the country. Because of the proximity of other holidays during the week, this begins an extended period of holidays that many Hondurans can enjoy.

Where is it celebrated?
Honduras (National holiday)
When is it?
This year (2024)
October 3 Thursday
Next year (2025)
October 3 Friday
Last year (2023)
October 3 Tuesday