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13 September: what is celebrated today
The calendar holds dates that seem designed to remind us of life’s diversity: the discipline and patience of swimming teachers, the importance of health in the Caribbean, the universal sweetness of chocolate and a people’s identity in the form of an arepa. 13 September (and its nearest weekend) brings together all these celebrations, travelling from water to the palate, via health and culture.
Swimming Teacher’s Day
Every 13 September, tribute is paid to those whose mission is to teach swimming: swimming teachers. Their work goes beyond technique; they instil confidence in the water, safeguard their students’ safety and train everyone from children to high-performance athletes.
The duties of these professionals range from planning training sessions, providing first aid, coordinating groups and directing activities, to training competitive swimmers.
Why learn to swim?
Swimming is not only a sport: it is survival, recreation and health. Its benefits include:
Reducing stress.
Improving coordination and memory.
Promoting lung capacity and the cardiovascular system.
Contributing to recovery from injuries or postural problems.
In short, learning to swim opens the door to a healthier and safer life.
Caribbean Wellness Day
The second Saturday in September is Caribbean Wellness Day, a date that began in 2007 following the Declaration of Port of Spain, when CARICOM countries committed to combating non-communicable diseases.
These conditions —diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular or kidney problems— are closely linked to four risk factors:
Poor diet.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Tobacco.
Harmful use of alcohol.
Today, this date has expanded into Caribbean Wellness Week, with marathons, health fairs, nutrition workshops and recreational activities that promote a healthier lifestyle.
International Chocolate Day
13 September is also synonymous with pleasure: International Chocolate Day is celebrated, established in 1995 in France in honour of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Milton S. Hershey, founder of the famous chocolate company.
The legacy of cocoa
From the Mayans and Aztecs, who drank it bitter and ritually, to its arrival in Europe, chocolate has travelled through centuries of history. Today it is a product loved in all its forms and, in addition, with multiple benefits:
It improves circulation and brain health.
It provides antioxidants.
It regulates blood pressure.
It protects the skin from the sun and helps relieve migraines.
World Arepa Day
Every second Saturday in September, Venezuelans inside and outside their country celebrate World Arepa Day, an initiative born in 2012 as a World Arepazo promoted by the organisation VenMundo.
The arepa, made of maize flour and filled with endless combinations, is much more than food: it is a symbol of identity and unity for millions of Venezuelans around the world. From the traditional viuda (without filling) to the famous reina pepiada (chicken, avocado and mayonnaise), the arepa is a reflection of creativity and tradition.
A day with many flavours and lessons
13 September and its weekend invite us to reflect on life from different perspectives: learning to swim to take care of ourselves, building healthy habits in the community, enjoying an ancestral delicacy such as chocolate and embracing culture through the arepa. A day to dive in, take care of oneself, sweeten oneself and, above all, share.