F F F F FRIDAY!!!

Today is Independence Day in Guatemala (and Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras). Independence Day in Guatemala commemorates the independence of the Central American provinces from Spanish rule on this day in 1821.

In the first decade of the nineteenth century, Spain had been weakened by its involvement in the Peninsular War in Europe and local juntas had been created as local Spanish had revolted against the rule of King Joseph, Napoleon’s brother who was installed as ruler of Spain by the French in 1808.

This taste for independent rule persisted after King Ferdinand came to the Spanish throne and on September 15th 1821, the Act of Independence of Central America was declared by the Province of Guatemala.

Following independence and despite opposition from El Salvador, the regions became part of the Mexican Empire, until they ceded to become the short-lived Federal Republic of Central America in 1823.


Crystal Bepis

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Ola Brunkert, drummer with the Swedish group ABBA. Was a member of the Slim Blues Gang, Science Poption and jazz-rock combo Opus III before joining ABBA. He played on every ABBA album and toured with the group. He was found dead with his throat cut at his home in Majorca, Spain on March 17th 2008 after he hit his head against a glass door in the dining room at his home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s