Apastepeque facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apastepeque
|
|
|---|---|
|
Municipality
|
|
Raimundo Lazo Street on Corpus Christi day
|
|
 Apastepeque
Location in El Salvador
|
|
| Country |  El Salvador |
| Department | San Vicente Department |
| Population | |
| • Total | 19,895 |
Apastepeque is a lively town in the San Vicente Department of El Salvador. It's about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of San Salvador, the capital city. Apastepeque is also just 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) from San Vicente, the main city in its department. The town itself has around 10,000 people, but the whole area (municipality) has about 19,895 residents.
This town is famous for its many festivals and cultural events throughout the year. These celebrations start in January with the Fiesta de los Moros. In May, there are Santa Rita's festivities. July brings the big festival for the patron saint, Santiago. And in December, everyone enjoys the annual Christmas carnival.
Geography of Apastepeque
Apastepeque is a municipality within the San Vicente Department. It is located in the southeastern part of El Salvador, east of San Salvador. The town sits at an altitude of 590 meters (1,936 feet) above sea level.
It shares borders with several other towns. To the north is San Esteban Catarina. To the northeast, you'll find Santa Clara. To the east, it borders San Ildefonso. To the south, it's next to Ciudad de San Vicente, which is the capital of the department. Finally, to the west, it borders San Cayetano Istepeque.
Arts and Culture in Apastepeque
Apastepeque is a town rich in religious and cultural traditions. Its culture blends old influences from before and during colonial times with new ideas from today. A very well-known building in Apastepeque is its church, which was built during the colonial period. This church has been damaged several times by earthquakes. It was rebuilt after a big earthquake in 2001.
One of the most important festivals is held from July 16 to July 25. This celebration honors the town's patron saint, Saint James the Great (Santiago Apóstol). During this time, there are many religious, cultural, and social activities. These include masquerades, traditional dances, and concerts.
The name "Apastepeque" comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "Hill of the Alabaster." Alabaster is a type of soft rock, like limestone. Another nearby settlement is called Saguayapa. In Nahuatl, Saguayapa means "Rivers of frogs and sands." These two areas are like twin towns. They are separated by Raymundo Street, which is north of the Santiago Apóstol church. Saguayapa is the northern part, and Apastepeque is the southern part.
Apastepeque has many celebrations each year. One important festival starts in January to honor San Sebastián Martyr. This is considered the second most important festival in the town. During this event, the famous dances of the Moors and Christians are performed. These dances have a long history in the town.
Economy of Apastepeque
For a long time, the economy of Apastepeque has been based on agriculture. Most farmers grow crops mainly to feed their families, which is called subsistence farming.
Sugar cane is a very important crop for the town's economy. People value sugar cane not just as a food product, but also for its traditional medicinal uses.
See also
In Spanish: Apastepeque para niños
