Festivals and Holidays

In Guatemala, Semana Santa is a great celebration. Throughout the week, processions go through the city from towns near Antigua. On the city's cobblestone streets, visitors spend hours creating vibrant alfombras, or "carpets," made of sawdust. Alfombras are routinely trampled on by processions as part of a long-standing custom. Every community in Guatemala honors its own patron saint. The celebration includes traditional dances and other cultural performances. In addition, locals frequently sell their handmade goods during the festivities.

The Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de Los Muertos, is a yearly event that takes place on November first. Despite the name's potential for fear, it's actually a season of remembering. Families visit the graves of their loved ones who have passed away and decorate the headstones with vibrant colors. Flying kites is a common pastime in Guatemala because November is one of the windiest months there.

Another Christmas custom in Guatemala involves people gathering outside to let off fireworks and fire weapons into the air. The spectacular explosions fill up the valley whether seen from above or when placed next to looming volcanoes. Sadly, five to ten people lose their lives each year as a result of gunshots that fall from the sky. Some cultural customs might benefit from revision.