The month of April is significant across the world. In the United States, it encompasses April Fools Day, Easter (during most years), Earth Day, National Siblings Day, Income Tax Day, and many more (including National Zucchini Bread Day, Caramel Popcorn Day, and No Housework Day).
In San Antonio however, April is significant for an entirely different reason: Fiesta!
Fiesta is San Antonio's annual festival. Encompassing the last two weeks of April, Fiesta was meant to be a remembrance of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto. In the past 100 years, however, it has grown to be so much more.
Fiesta has always been my favorite part of living in San Antonio. Believe me when I tell you, the city quite literally shuts down during those two weeks, and the streets are covered in confetti from all of the cascarones.
If celebrating every night for two weeks wasn't enough, all elementary-high school students living in San Antonio get one Friday off during Fiesta to attend the annual Battle of Flowers parade!
Friends, families, and tourists spend all day in the sun, listening to live music, watching parades, and eating chicken on a stick (among other delectable fried foods). Flower wreaths populate the heads of girls young and old, and everywhere you look is an array of colors.
In addition to flower wreaths, colorful dresses, and foods on sticks, Fiesta medals are an integral part of Fiesta culture.
While, even after attending Fiesta events nearly every year of my life, I couldn't tell you why these are so special, or what their significance is, I can tell you that it wouldn't be Fiesta without people collecting as many of these as they can.
There are different events every day, including Oyster Bake, the Taste of New Orleans, a Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA), and the King William Fair, so there is something for everyone.
I can't fully explain how much I love Fiesta. There's something about the music, the crowds, being with my family, and all of the food that makes me feel so loved.
It means so much more than a party, long lines, and hot weather. Fiesta is family, it's art, it's music, it's San Antonio.
