National Flag Copyright: Thinkquest Team 17749

The National Flag was created on September 5, 1908 with the blue and white stripes which the Central American Federation had agreed upon and the National shield in the center.

National Anthem Streaming Audio for 56.6 Kbps Modems Streaming Audio for 28.8 Kbps Modems Streaming Audio for 14.4 Kbps Modems Download RealAudio File (238 KB) Download Windows File (473 KB) Download Apple File (473 KB) Download NEXT/SUN File (473 KB) Choose Your Modem Speed

The National Anthem, which is considered by some critics to be one of the three best anthems in the world because of its strict allusions to peace and labor, was the work of Salomón Ibarra Mayorga and was approved on December 9, 1918. It is believed by some that the music was authored by Jose del Carmen Vega.

Go print out the piano sheet music of the national anthem.

The National Tree is the Madroño which becomes covered in white flowers during the summer. This tree was chosen because of the elegance of its shape and its usefulness to the people.

Sacuanjoche Copyright: Gerald Bauer

The National Flower is the Sacuanjoche, also called the May Flower because that is its flowering month. Its name is derived from the word "xacuan" from a native language called náhuatl and means "precious yellow feather or flower."

The National Bird is the Guardabarranco which lives in the forests of Nicaragua and likes to perch on branches and wave its tail feathers back and forth like a pendulum.

Nicaraguans celebrate more holidays than any nation I know and, due to the widespread adherence to Catholicism, most of these holidays are Catholic holidays in which saints are honored. These holidays are usually characterized by loud fireworks, lots of music and dancing in the streets and parks, a procession down main steet with a statue of the saint, and lots of rum and beer.