Cross Day (El Salvador) 2023: Cross Day, also known as the Day of the Cross, is a May 3 annual holiday in El Salvador. On this day, families throughout El Salvador decorate a jiote tree cross with fruit and paper decorations. This colonial-era celebration signifies the beginning of the region’s rainy season. Salvadoran holidays and traditions combine religious observances with Indigenous and colonial traditions to honour the Salvadoran people’s diverse culture and beliefs.
HISTORY OF CROSS DAY (EL SALVADOR)
El Salvador is a nation with a wealth of cultural traditions and aesthetic celebrations. Similar to the majority of Latin America and the Caribbean, this region is wealthy in religious and cultural diversity.
The celebration of El Salvador’s Cross Day occurs on May 3. It is not an official or religious holiday, but the offering of the season’s first produce signifies the beginning of the wet or rainy season. Cross Day is a festive occasion celebrated by individual households. Nevertheless, some municipalities position their cross in front of the municipal park or city hall. The festival has its origins in Byzantine Empress Saint Helena’s search for the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and its popular traditions almost certainly derive from pagan customs introduced to Spain by the Roman Empire.
In traditional prehistoric fashion, the indigenous peoples offered sustenance to the gods and Mother Earth in gratitude for their provision. During the colonial era, when the tradition merged with Catholicism, the cross was introduced. It is made of wood and decorated with florals and long strands of colourful tissue paper. At the foot of the cross, Salvadorans place fruits, cereals, vegetables, drinks, candies, and sometimes money. In addition to kneeling before it and reciting a prayer of thanksgiving, visitors are invited to bring offerings.
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CROSS DAY (EL SALVADOR) ACTIVITIES
Take a journey to El Salvador
Visit San Salvador to participate in the festivities in person. It is certain to be an adventure you will never forget!
Place a cross before your home.
Even if you are unable to travel to the country, you can still join Salvadorans as they position crosses in the front or back yards of each home. Branches of the jiote tree, which are abundant in El Salvador, are typically used to construct the cross.
Try pupusas
Pupusas are unique to El Salvador and consist of filled tortillas. They constitute the unofficial national cuisine! If you find yourself in El Salvador, indulge in meat- or cheese-filled pupusas.
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5 EL SALVADOR FACTS THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW
El Salvador is one of the most renowned surfing destinations on the Pacific coastline.
The continent of volcanoes
The country has more than twenty active volcanoes, the most active of which has erupted more than twenty times in the past decade.
Compact but dense
El Salvador is a charming but populous nation.
Initials-only foundation
Most Salvadorans only use first names when addressing acquaintances and family.
A compassionate nation
El Salvador is renowned for its hospitable environment.
WHY WE LOVE CROSS DAY (EL SALVADOR)
Cross Day marks the commencement of spring. Additionally, it is observed to safeguard family members from the devil and to express gratitude to God for providing food.
It brings individuals together.
Cross Day honours national pride and highlights the value of community. We appreciate how the festival incorporates these two elements.
It respects Native American cultures
The celebration showcases Indigenous art, theatre, and music. It incorporates tradition and religion to honour all Salvadorans, from the most recent immigrants to the longest-living citizens.
CROSS DAY (EL SALVADOR) DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 3 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | May 3 | Friday |
| 2025 | May 3 | Saturday |
| 2026 | May 3 | Sunday |
| 2027 | May 3 | Monday |
