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Festivities, Festivals and Holidays in Guatemala

Each town throughout the country celebrates fiestas with different social, cultural, and sporting events. Many are similar , but two not to miss are: Fiesta of Todos Santos Cuchumaranes, October 21 thru November 1 and Fiesta of Chichicastenango, December 13 thru 21.

All Saints Day in Todos Santos

November 1st is one of the most important days in Guatemala. On this day they celebrate the Day of the dead. Cementaries are visited and decorated to remember loved ones. It is a mixture of acient pagan beliefs and Catholic traditions brought by the Spanish in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Easter week in Guatemala

Easter week is one of the most colorful times to visit Guatemala. Each of the indigenous Indian groups perform religious and folkloric traditions. One of the best places to see this is in Antigua. Locals participate in processions through the streets carring statues of Christ dragging, carring or nailed to the cross. They are colorful processions that march on intricately laid saw-dust rugs on the village streets. The processions are held throughout the hole town. Other town with traditional parades include Huehuetenango and Totonicapan. The churches in Guatemala City also hold processions through the streets of the capital.

Folkloric Festival of "Rabinal Ajau"

Probably the most impressive festival of Indian Traditions in Guatemala os the traditional dance of the Paabanc. This is celebrated throughout the region by the local Kekchis, who wear their traditional costumes. Local food is also a must to try.

Flying of Giant Kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez

The village locates 15 milles from Antigua starts All Saints Day with the gathering of the villagers and a procession through the streets to hte cementeries. Once there, they fly giante kites "to communicate with loved ones who passed away". The giant kites have messages tied to the tails for hte deceased and special petition to God. The celebration end with a traditional meal called fiambre.

Celebration of Santo Tomas the Patron of Chichicastenango

Every December, celebrations begin with local Indian groups honoring God ans tradition. Take time to admire the Palo Volador where locals, dangling from a rope, swing around a pole in the central plaza.

National Holidays: