by Melody Star | 12 Sep 2014 7:27 PM PDT Updated 16 Sep 2014 1:14 PM PDT
See Related Interview from Guatemala’s Publine News
This week is hiatus for the cast of The Big Bang Theory, well most of them (see Production Journal, Season 8 Episode 5) and that means that many of the stars travel various places during their week off. Often they will travel to New York, such as Jim Parsons this week who was on The Dan Patrick Show today, and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting who will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on September 18, 2014. But it is rare when one of the cast travel so far as Mayim Bialik did this week when only on a week-long hiatus.
Mayim Bialik traveled to Antigua Guatemala to join the Guatemalan people in celebrating the Guatemalan Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 15th annually. In the days leading up to Independence Day, most of the country’s schools, buildings and buses are decorated with nationalistic images. The students form assemblies as they sing the national anthem. Customarily the Guatemalan army have a traditional military parade and air shows, usually for the review of the President. Many Guatemalans take this time to visit traditional tourist areas to watch the ongoing celebrations.
Mayim Bialik with Nelo Mijangos Photo: on Instagram BAZINGA !! with Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler from The Big Bang Theory) #mayinbialik #amyfarrahfowler #bigbangtheory #bigbang #bazinga #guatemala #antiguaguatemala
We learned through the gentleman (Mijangos) in the photo above that Mayim was in Guatemala for a photo shoot but we still don’t know what it was for or if it was related to The Big Bang Theory, her work with STEM, Candid Camera or what but at least we know we have some photos to look forward to soon. The photos were evidently hired by a New York firm because the photographer sent them to New York.
While there, Mayim took in a bit of Guatemalan history as well.
History of Guatemala’s Independence Day
From 1811 to 1818, Captain General José de Bustamante ruled the Kingdom of Guatemala. He suppressed all attempts toward independence thus preserving the region’s allegiance to Spain. King Ferdinand VII was restored to the Spanish throne after the French were defeated in Spain in 1814. However, a revolt ensued around 1820 in Spain thereby restoring the constitution of 1812. During this period local election campaigns followed in Central America and an intense political rivalry emerged between the liberal and the conservative factions of the elite.
Guatemala was fortunate to have gained independence from Spain without much blood being spilt compared to the wars that occurred to most countries of Latin America. On September 15, 1821, a council of distinquished personages in Guatemala City proclaimed independence from Spain and they formed a government with Gabino de Gainza, as the chief executive.
Honduran lawyer and scholar José Cecilio del Valle, promptly attempted to integrate Guatemala into the Mexican Empire in January 1822. Opposition from the provinces soon turned into an ugly civil war, but it ended as quickly as it began when Iturbide’s government in Mexico soon collapsed.
Source for history and traditional celebration information