About Guatemala - Chapter 1 - History and Customs

The most diverse Central America’s country attracts travelers with its extraordinary landscapes and culture that reaches back centuries. Guatemala is commonly known as the Eternal Spring Country and home of the Maya. It's known for its colonial architecture, volcanoes, ruins, wildlife, handcrafts, natural beauties and textiles.

History

This country was conquered by Spain in 1524 and became independent in 1821. The Spanish left behind plenty of footprints from their colonial conquest of Guatemala, being the most visible the frequently stunning architecture in our beautiful La Antigua Guatemala...

The old capital, its neat plazas, and monumental ruins. From the grandiose coffee-boom buildings of Quetzaltenango to Guatemala City’s stately cathedral, to the churches and municipal buildings clustering around central squares in even the smallest towns, Guatemala bears the marks of its European encounters in vivid bricks and tiles.

Custom

• Holy Week: Lent (starting at Ash Wednesday) is a big deal in the colonial city of La Antigua Guatemala, where religious processions wind their way through town during the season to finish on Easter Sunday. This celebration draw thousands of visitors from around the world to see sawdust carpets and religious processions. You will need to book accommodation in advance if you want to live and see this tradition.

• Giant Kites Festival: This tradition celebrated for All Saint’s day honors the dead with huge kites that are constructed in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepequez. Visit these two villages to see massive kites decorated in bright colors, often with political and pro-nature messages. Both places are within 30 minutes of Antigua Guatemala.

• The Burning Bull - Torito: The burning of the bull is part of the traditions of the culture of several towns in Guatemala and is celebrated several times throughout the year. This bull is handmade with colored paper and is wrapped in fireworks. The torito is usually burned in front of churches, and inside the torito there is a person who dances while the fireworks are lit. This tradition originated after the Spanish conquest to celebrate the arrival of pyrotechnics to the country.

• Dance of the Moors: This joyful tradition is carried out in different towns of the country including Guatemala City. The dance of Moors and Christians tells the story of the battle between the Moors and Christians in Spain. The striking thing about the dance is in the dancer garments to represent the characters. You will recognize Spanish Christians by their bearded masks and flashy clothing. Instead, the Moors have dark masks, turbans, and cloth covering their faces.

• Fiambre: Every year Guatemalan families prepare and eat the traditional cold meat salad to eat on the Day of the Dead and All Saints Day. The huge salad can be made with as many as 50 ingredients, but the most important are sausages, cold cuts, pickled baby corn and beets.

• Posadas: Before Christmas, if you are in Guatemala, you will be able to witness different processions followed by families and friends while they sing Christmas carols and local songs, from december 15th to the 23rd at 7:00pm. The purpose of processions is to request posada (accommodation) in different houses where they eat tamales and ponche (hot fruit beverage) until midnight.