Parties, piñatas and penguins: Independence Day, Central America style

By Sarah Brown and Stina Backer

Updated 1742 GMT (0142 HKT) September 13, 2013

"In Costa Rica we proudly celebrate our independence throughout September which we call 'the Homeland's Month'," said Pablo Avilés, who took this photo in 2012. "We are proud to be a country with no army, but we say that<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1033715" target="_blank"> our army is our children</a> in schools and high schools. I think this is one of the most beautiful moments, because you can see the kids reflecting the ethnic mix of Costa Rica," said the 41-year-old web developer from San José, Costa Rica.
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Peaceful Costa Rica – "In Costa Rica we proudly celebrate our independence throughout September which we call 'the Homeland's Month'," said Pablo Avilés, who took this photo in 2012. "We are proud to be a country with no army, but we say that our army is our children in schools and high schools. I think this is one of the most beautiful moments, because you can see the kids reflecting the ethnic mix of Costa Rica," said the 41-year-old web developer from San José, Costa Rica.
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Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica often feature<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1028926" target="_blank"> parades of school children</a> carrying flags and dressed in traditional Costa Rican clothing or other costumes. Bruce Thomson, 29, took this photo in 2006 when he was living in the country. "Celebrations often begin the night before with town gatherings and the lighting of home-made, patriotically decorated lanterns," said the World Bank economist.
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Red, white and blue – Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica often feature parades of school children carrying flags and dressed in traditional Costa Rican clothing or other costumes. Bruce Thomson, 29, took this photo in 2006 when he was living in the country. "Celebrations often begin the night before with town gatherings and the lighting of home-made, patriotically decorated lanterns," said the World Bank economist.
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"Mexico City is full of color at any time of year. But September brings a <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1031203" target="_blank">burst of reds whites and greens</a> that cover the city in cloth flags, plastic bunting and sparkling lights," said Gary Denness from London, UK. The 40-year-old is married to a Mexican and lived in the country for six years. "I always went to a public display for Independence Day, to hear the Cry of Independence known as El Grito. In the UK, there isn't a huge Mexican population but we are having a gathering of local Mexicans on Sunday for drinks and food and have some Mexican bunting ready to put up," he said.
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Mexico City lights – "Mexico City is full of color at any time of year. But September brings a burst of reds whites and greens that cover the city in cloth flags, plastic bunting and sparkling lights," said Gary Denness from London, UK. The 40-year-old is married to a Mexican and lived in the country for six years. "I always went to a public display for Independence Day, to hear the Cry of Independence known as El Grito. In the UK, there isn't a huge Mexican population but we are having a gathering of local Mexicans on Sunday for drinks and food and have some Mexican bunting ready to put up," he said.
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This photo of Laura G. Ochoa (right) and her friend Nina Astengo was taken by Ms Ochoa's mother during the weekend of Mexican Independence Day in east Los Angeles back in 1988. "I was in the parade and nervous so I don't remember more than us walking with two other friends in the parade looking at many people along the route," said the 38-year-old Art Director.
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A trip down memory lane – This photo of Laura G. Ochoa (right) and her friend Nina Astengo was taken by Ms Ochoa's mother during the weekend of Mexican Independence Day in east Los Angeles back in 1988. "I was in the parade and nervous so I don't remember more than us walking with two other friends in the parade looking at many people along the route," said the 38-year-old Art Director.
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This motley crew were taking part in the Independence Day celebrations in Guatemala City on September 15, 2011. Lucas de Soto, 30, said he captured this <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1026870" target="_blank">"rather surreal moment"</a> when attending the parade. "It is part of a sort of fun side to the military that they wanted to present with the festive atmosphere, despite how ambivalent the general public is about them, so they were dressing up as bears, and wrestlers, and handling out candy," said the anthropologist.