10 very interesting Guatemalan traditions and customs

Guatemala is a Central American country that is home to the largest city in Central America, Guatemala City, as well as being the most populous country in this region.

This country, of great ecological and biological diversity, also has a rich and complex history, having been home (along with other nearby countries such as Mexico) to civilizations such as the Maya.

Another aspect to highlight, often integrating the traditions of the Mayans and other pre-Columbian peoples with those brought by the Spanish during the conquest of America. In order to visualize part of this cultural wealth, throughout this article we are going to know a series of traditions and customs of Guatemala.

• Related article: "7 customs and traditions of Mexico that you would like to know"

10 traditions and customs of Guatemala

Below we present a dozen beautiful traditions and customs of this country, mostly focused on festivities from different locations in the country (some of which are shared by other nearby countries).

1. The kites of Sumpango Sacatepéquez

In Sumpango (or Santiago) Sacatepéquez, during the Day of the Dead (November 1) there is a tradition of making huge handmade paper kites, which symbolize a bridge or point of union between our world and the world. underworld. They also represent a gateway to the spirits, who can return to their former homes and their families through them.

The next day, first of all these kites or kites rise to finally light them, representing the smoke a guide for the spirits to return to the afterlife. It is also said that these traditions scare away evil spirits. It is also a celebration that has been recognized as Guatemala's cultural heritage.

2. The dance of the flying stick

The dance of the flying stick, in Quiché, is a tradition in which it is placed in a huge tree trunk in a revolving structure, from which various dancers drop down, throwing themselves from above while they dance and they rotate.

These dancers represent the legend of the Popol Vuh of the twins Hunbatz and Hunchouén, which were transformed into monkeys as punishment for having wished the death of their younger brothers.

3. Belejeb B'atz: the day of the Mayan woman

Another of the traditions that can be seen in Guatemala comes from the ancient Mayans. The Belejeb B'atz is the day of the Mayan woman, which is celebrated every 260 days (based on the lunar calendar of this civilization).

This celebration celebrates the day on which, according to Mayan mythology, women were created, as well as the important role that this civilization gave to women. It represents the vital energy, the wisdom, the beautiful and the faithful, the creation and the mystery. The women dress up for a party and Mayan ceremonies are held in honor of indigenous mothers.

4. The burning of the bull

Of origin after the Spanish conquest, in this tradition a wooden bull covered with different types of fires is made. artificial, to later be placed on top of a man who dances while chasing passers-by once the elements are turned on pyrotechnics. It is usually held in front of churches.

5. devil's burning

This tradition takes place every December 7, at 6 in the afternoon, and in it a piñata in the shape of a devil is burned. The objective of this tradition is to purify sins and bad things that have happened during the year.

6. The Top of May

Also known as the Dance of the Flowers, it is one of the best-known dances in the Jalapa region. It is a celebration in which expresses love and admiration for spring, in addition to asking for the arrival of good harvests. In this dance several dancers dance around a tree trunk, tying and braiding colored ribbons and ribbons and then unbraiding them while they dance.

• You may be interested in: "What is Cultural Psychology?"

7. Preparation of cold cuts

Probably one of the best-known dishes in Guatemalan gastronomy is fiambre, a traditional and highly multicultural dish in which we find a large number of ingredients, mostly vegetables and sausages (although sometimes cheeses, fish and seafood).

There are numerous regional variants, being especially known the red fiambre and the white fiambre, and it is generally made for the Day of the Dead celebrations.

8. the bull dance

Although its name resembles the burning of the bull, it is a different tradition.

Is about a dance in which various dancers, dressed as various characters, enact a traditional story about the cattle ranch in which several cowboys wanted to deal with a bull but their foreman would not allow it, something that made the cowboys get him drunk and finally the foreman ends up dying at the hands of his bull Bravo. This dance lasts ten hours a day for ten days, in which the participants dress in very colorful costumes and masks, with Mayan mythological elements.

9. The bankruptcy of shells

Tradition of the day of Carnival, is based on the idea of ​​decorating eggshells and filling them with flour or confetti in order to break them into the heads of the rest of the people. These shells are usually prepared as a family or in a community, often starting on February 2.

10. The Holy Week

Easter is a tradition present internationally, being very important in Guatemala. This week is lived with the family, with a high presence of processions and religious events. Among the more specific traditions we can find the making of carpets with sawdust of different colors, often with intricate ornamental motifs, through which processions pass.

Bibliographic references:

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