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 Spanish who settled in the territory.

The festivities of today’s Guatemala 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 been able to incorporate the best of both worlds.

Guatemala’s 20 most famous festivals and cultural events

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

1. The burning of the torito

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

It is celebrated with a handmade bull made of brightly colored paper, wire and wrapped in fireworks. These fires are lit and the little bull, usually located in front of churches, is burned.

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

2. Elaboration of the Cold Meat

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

It is consumed on All Saints’ Day, November 1st, and its preparation dates back to the time of the Spanish conquest. The complexity of this dish is such that it can perfectly carry more than fifty ingredients.

It gets practically everything, as a result of the mixture between pre-Columbian cultures, the Spanish one and the Arabic influences on the Iberian peoples.

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

3. The Holy Week

Usually performed between the months of March and April . During this period several processions are held 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 these dates is the manufacture of sawdust carpets, which are of many colors and show religious patterns.

4. Santiago de los Barriletes Gigantes Festival

On November 1 the city of Santiago Sacatepéquez celebrates the festival of the giant kites . During the festival, barrels of up to 16 metres in diameter made of paper are taken out and used to chase away bad spirits from cemeteries and houses.

When evening comes, these kites are burned, so that their smoke can serve as a guide for lost souls.

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

5. The Carnival

Carnival is a must in most Latin American countries , and clearly Guatemala was 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 the carnival the use of costumes is not mandatory, but rather in this festivity what matters is to celebrate it in general terms.

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

6. Dance of the Moors

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 they have this holiday, 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 dress in bright clothing, while those representing the Moors wear dark masks and turbans.

7. The inns

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

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

The little shepherds are attended to when they ask for lodging during the course of the procession. When the procession is over, they are invited to eat typical local foods, such as tamales, punches, sweet breads and corn atol.

8. The dance of the flying stick

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

The dancers represent the legend of the Popol Vuh of the twins Hunbatz and Hunchouén, who were punished by being turned into monkeys for wishing their little brothers dead.

9. The Rabinal Achí

It is also called the dance of the Tun . It is a Mesoamerican drama, characterized as 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 underground from 1625 to 1856, when it was translated by the French priest Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg.

10. Dolores’ strike

This is a satirical march, whose origins date back to 1898 with the intention of serving to put pressure on the government of that time.

Students from San Carlos University do this march every Friday of Pain, showing their discontent in a parodic way and representing government figures.

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

11. The Tape Race

Also known as the Game of the Cocks , men ride horses wearing traditional costumes with colored scarves, red ribbons and feathers.

The turns to participate are controlled and you have to pay to ride, either for a certain period of time or doing a certain amount of laps.

12. Christmas in Guatemala

In Guatemala, as in many places of Christianity, they place the traditional Christmas tree, decorated with balls, lights and the typical star on its top .

In the past, the branches of the Guatemalan fir (Abies guatemalensis) were used in the country, but with the passage of time it has been decided to put up artificial trees and thus avoid a decrease in the quantity of this species in Guatemalan forests.

As in Spain, before midnight on December 24th and 25th, the Midnight Mass is celebrated. At midnight, there are fireworks, prayers to the Child Jesus and time with the family.

13. Wedding requests

It is tradition that the parents of the groom agree to meet with those of the bride to settle matters concerning the wedding and the future residence of those who are to be married shortly.

The role of the mothers is that of advisors, who give useful recommendations based on their experience to ensure 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 being killed 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 people who help children develop into well-adjusted future citizens as low-level workers.

15. The Day of the Mayan Woman

Called in Mayan k’iche’ Belejeb B’atz , is another important tradition that Guatemalans still have 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 the day in which, according to the ancient Mayan religion, the woman was created. During this celebration, the important role that the female sex played in the Mayan culture is remembered, being represented as a source of vital energy, beauty, knowledge and fidelity.

Women are dressed in festive clothing and Mayan ceremonies are performed to honor them.

16. May’s top

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 crops abound.

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

17. Birthday celebration in the country

Celebrating another year is common to all cultures. Clearly, the celebration will depend on the age of the birthday boy, but the usual thing is to throw firecrackers in the morning on the day of the anniversary.

A tamale with chocolate is eaten for breakfast and, if it’s a child, to make the day very happy, colorful piñatas with candy and toys are bursting inside.

Throughout the day, other sweets are eaten , such as the traditional colorful cakes.

18. Traditional dances

The celebration and joy is never complete without dancing and, of course, the country of Chapín is an expert on this subject.

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

To give just a few examples, we have the dance of the monkeys, 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 the Guatemalan culture by visiting its beautiful country.

19. Popular music

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

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

Among the most popular instruments used in the country’s music scene we have the harp, the guitar, the violin, the single marimba or the double keyboard.

20. The Black Christ of Esquipulas

To end this compilation of the country’s traditions and customs we have a religious festival, the Black Christ of Esquipulas.

Esquipulas is located in the department of Chiquimula and is 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 go on pilgrimage to the place, make offerings and give thanks for the good things that happened the previous year.

Bibliographic references:

  • Lara Figueroa, C. (2005). Magia y Misterio de Guatemala Collection. Guatemala: Prensa Libre/Celso Lara.