Mother's Day is such a big deal here that it is a holiday from school AND a separate day where the whole school day (and a week of preparation during 'classes') are devoted to a school-wide talent show put on for the mothers and a special lunch for the madrecitas.
Considering the dismal state of educational achievement in El Salvador, this celebration may seem a litle excessive. Then again, this is a country where bar none, THE most important part of a woman's identity is being a mother. (I know, I know, of course it is for many women everywhere, but here in the campo, where it is not uncommon for a woman to have 10-15 children, it seems, at least to this outsider, that it is often her sole identity.) If a woman doesn't get affirmation for her work as a mom, there isn't likely to be much other praise coming her way.
So looking at it this way, Mother's Day really is the most important day of the year for these Salvadoran super-moms that work hard from dawn till midnight. Feliz Dia de la Madre, madrecitas!
P.S. Father's Day merited a token mention in church for the beloved 'padrecitos' and no school activities. And all the Mother's Day signs are still up!
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