Today is national holiday in Uruguay, it is a day when Artigas (national hero) was born, gradnparents' day and moreover, the day when Uruguayans promise faithfulness or loyalty to their flag. I was invited to see the ceremony in liceo. There are all first-year students and some other people who haven't made this promise before. They started the ceremony with bringing Uruguayans flags. Uruguay has three officical flags which are always brought in official ceremonies. The one with the sun is the flag of Uruguay, then there is the flag of Artigas and the flag of thirty three Orientals (Artigas and Orientals are national heroes who helped to liberate the country and gain independence). So at the beginning of the ceremony the flags are brought by students and the anthem is sung. Afterwards there was a speech to commerate Artigas and the importance of this promise to the state and flag. The director had a speech about the importance of this step in life of everybody - it means to be loyal to Uruguayan state, to live a dignified life, to defend the country, its laws and constitution if needed and mainly try to be better and better person every day. And finally group 'I promise'.
Honestly, I was surprised. Last week they mentioned this ceremony in a very obvious way. However, I looked at them perplexed. They explained me what it was, but when I asked 'why?', they looked perplexed. It is a promise which everybody must do, because you get a paper which proves that you made the oath. Afterwards, they ask for the paper when you want to enter university, at work, in some offices,... It is so obvious as to be a football fun in Uruguay, nobody asks why.
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