The 20 most important festivities in Guatemala

This Latin American country has a great cultural and natural wealth.

Guatemala is one of the smallest countries in Latin America and yet it has offered the world a rich and varied culture, a mixture of the influences of the ancient Mayan civilization and the European and Arabic influences imported by the Spaniards who settled in the country.It is a mixture of the influences of the ancient Mayan civilization and the European and Arabic influences imported by the Spaniards who settled in the territory.

The festivities of Guatemala today are due to the struggle to evangelize the territory and the resistance of the pre-Columbian cultures to lose their identity, creating a new one that has managed to incorporate the best of both worlds.

The 20 most famous festivities and cultural events in Guatemala.

There is no doubt that the country, whose name in Nahuatl means "place of many trees", is a beautiful land and in this article we will try to show you some of its most outstanding festivities.

1. The burning of the little bull

This tradition has its origin after the Spanish conquest in the lands of Guatemala.. The Spaniards imported fireworks that the local people incorporated into their culture and festivities.

It is celebrated with a handmade bull made with colorful papers, wire and wrapped with fireworks. These fires are lit and the torito is burned, usually located in front of churches.

Inside the burning object is a person who is dancing and chasing passers-by.

2. Elaboration of Fiambre

This is a Guatemalan dish that is one of the most important elements of the culture of this Latin American country..

It is eaten on All Saints' Day, November 1, and its preparation dates back to the Spanish conquest. The complexity of this dish is such that it can have more than fifty ingredients.

Practically everything is used, as a result of the mixture between the pre-Columbian cultures, the Spanish and the Arabic influences on the Iberian peoples.

It is mainly made with vegetables and other greens, adding sausages, cheeses and even seafood. The richness of Guatemala can be seen in the elaboration of this dish, since there are regional variations.

3. Holy Week

It usually takes place between the months of March and April.. During this period there are several processions in which they speak of the life of Christ and represent his death. Religious events are numerous in the country.

One of the most common customs during this time is the making of sawdust carpets, which are colorful and show religious patterns.

4. Festival of Santiago de los Barriletes Gigantes (Giant Kites)

On November 1, in the city of Santiago Sacatepéquez, the festival of giant kites is celebrated.. During the festival, barrels of up to 16 meters in diameter made of paper are brought out to scare away evil spirits from cemeteries and houses.

In the evening, these kites are burned, so that their smoke serves as a guide for the lost souls.

The importance of this tradition has become so great that there are even competitions to see who can make the most beautiful kite of the year.

5. The Carnival

Carnival is an essential celebration in most Latin American countries.and Guatemala was clearly not going to be the exception.

As in Spain, the Guatemalan carnival is related to Lent, which originally prohibited the consumption of meat for about 40 days. According to the religion, this tradition begins on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

In Guatemala, during carnival, the use of costumes is not mandatory, but rather what is important in this festivity is to celebrate it in general terms.

It is characterized by empty shells painted with watercolors that inside have some peck, flour or confetti that are thrown to be broken on the heads of others.

6. Moorish Dance

This tradition is directly related to Spanish culture, since it represents how the different peoples of the Iberian Peninsula fought against the Muslims during the Reconquest.

Although Guatemala falls a little far both in time and space of this historical event, the truth is that in their lands have this festival, only that it is done at different times of the year depending on the region.The truth is that in their lands they have this festivity, only that it is done at different times of the year depending on the region.

The dancers who represent the Christians wear masks with beards and wear flashy clothes, while those who represent the Moors wear dark masks and turbans.

7. The posadas

Before Christmas, on the 24th, the country is filled with processions accompanied by families singing Christmas carols. singing Christmas carols.

Children dress up as shepherds and carry candles and instruments such as tambourines and castanets.

The shepherds are attended to when they ask for lodging during the course of the procession. When the procession is over, they are treated to typical foods of the area, such as tamales, punches, sweet breads and atol de elote.

8. The dance of the flying stick

A tree trunk is placed on a rotating structure and four dancers hang from ropes.. They wear feathered costumes and masks and are ready to spin while dancing. This celebration is done to ask for soil fertility and good rains.

The dancers represent the Popol Vuh legend of the twins Hunbatz and Hunchouén, who were punished by being turned into monkeys for having wished the death of their younger brothers.

9. The Rabinal Achí

It is also called the dance of the Tun. It is a Mesoamerican drama, characterized for being one of the few pre-Hispanic artistic works that survived the conquest.

In this story several facts are told, mixed with the Mayan religiosity and the socio-political spheres of the pre-Columbian civilization.

The drama survived in hiding from 1625 until 1856, when the French priest Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg translated it.

10. The Strike of Dolores

It is a satirical march, whose origins date back to the year 1898 with the intention of putting pressure on the government of the time.

The students of the University of San Carlos make this march every Friday of Dolores, showing their discontent in a parodic way and representing government characters.

Throughout its history it has been repressed on several occasions, but this has not prevented it from continuing to be celebrated.

11. The ribbon race

Also known as the Game of Roostersthe men ride on horseback wearing traditional costumes with colorful scarves, red ribbons and feathers.

Turns to participate are controlled and you must pay to ride, either for a certain amount of time or for a certain number of laps.

12. Christmas in Guatemala

In Guatemala, as in many places in Christendom, they put up the traditional Christmas tree, decorated with balls, lights and the typical star at the top of the tree..

In the past, the branches of the pinabete tree (Abies guatemalensis) were used in the country, but with the passage of time they have opted to put artificial trees and thus avoid the decrease in the amount of this species in the Guatemalan forests.

As in Spain, before midnight between December 24 and 25, the Misa del Gallo (Midnight Mass) is celebrated. At midnight, there are fireworks, prayers to the Baby Jesus and time with the family.

13. The proposal of the bride and groom

It is a tradition that the groom's parents arrange an appointment with the bride's parents to settle matters concerning the wedding and the future residence of the soon-to-be bride and groom. and the future residence of the soon-to-be bride and groom.

The role of the mothers is that of advisors, who give useful recommendations based on their experience to make sure that the future marriage lives happily and in mutual respect.

14. Teacher's Day

María Chinchilla Recinos was an important teacher in Guatemala.. That is why, after she was assassinated on June 25, 1944 in a peaceful demonstration against the dictatorial government of Jorge Ubico, it was decided to make that day the Teacher's Day in the country.

Every year on this day, demonstrations are held to highlight the important role that teachers play in society.

Unfortunately, in many corners of Latin America today, the teaching profession is undervalued, treating the people who help children develop as future citizens adapted as low-level workers.

15. Mayan Women's Day

Called in Maya k'iche' Belejeb B'atzBelejeb B'atz, is another important tradition that Guatemalans still preserve from their pre-Columbian past.

It is the day of the Mayan woman, which is celebrated every 260 days based on the calendar used by this ancient civilization. It is celebrated on the day in which, according to the ancient Mayan religion, women were created. During this celebration, the important role of the female sex in the Mayan culture is remembered, being represented as a source of vital energy, beauty, knowledge and fidelity.

Women dress up in festive attire and Mayan ceremonies are performed in which they are honored.

16. The top of May

It is one of the best known dances in the country, coming from the region of Jalapa..

Also called the Dance of the Flowers, this celebration expresses love for spring, since it is the season of the year when good harvests abound.

Several dancers dance around a tree trunk on which ribbons are hung.

17. Birthday celebration in the country

Celebrating another year is something that, as a general rule, is common in all cultures. Clearly, the celebration will depend on the age of the birthday boy or girl, but it is customary to set off firecrackers in the morning on the day of the anniversary.

A tamale with chocolate is eaten for breakfast and, in the case of children, colorful piñatas with candies and toys inside are burst to make the day very joyful.

Throughout the day other sweets are eatensuch as the traditional colorful cakes.

18. Traditional dances

Celebration and joy is never complete without dancing. and, of course, the country of El Chapín is an expert in this subject.

Hundreds of dances can be found throughout the country. In addition to those we have already mentioned in this article, we can mention many more.

To give just a few examples, we have the dance of the dance of the micos, the dance of the sailors, the dance of the snake, the dance of Yurumein, the Majani and many more.

It is only possible to capture the beauty of the dance diversity of Guatemalan culture by visiting this beautiful country.

19. Popular music

As with the dances, Guatemala has hundreds of traditional songs, which have been infused with both Mayan and Spanish influences..

There are also many instruments that have been made in the country, or that have been modified to take into account the characteristics of Guatemalan songs.

Of the most popular instruments used in the musical scene of the country we have the harp, the guitarrilla, the violin, the simple marimba or the double keyboard.

20. The Black Christ of Esquipulas

To finish this compilation of the traditions and customs of the country we have a religious festivity, the Black Christ of Esquipulas.

Esquipulas is located in the department of Chiquimula and is located near the border between Guatemala, San Salvador and Honduras.

The tradition of the Black Christ dates back to the Spanish conquest, when the Europeans evangelized the local people, and is related to deities of color such as Ek Chua.

It takes place during the month of January. People make pilgrimages to the site, make offerings, and give thanks for the good things that happened the previous year.

Bibliographical references:

• Lara Figueroa, C. (2005). Magic and Mystery of Guatemala Collection. Guatemala: Prensa Libre/Celso Lara.