Guatemalan Nacimiento Enactment
With the Feast for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, antigüeños begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a …
New Guatemalan Mayan-style Nacimiento Handicrafts
Nacimientos are Nativity (Navidad in Spanish) scenes shrines made to celebrate during the December until Christmas or Navidad in Spanish. On December …
Guatemalan Maya Nacimientos
As I have shared with you before, during early December, in Guatemala people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition …
Guatemalan Nacimiento for Christmas Eve in Antigua
Here’s a simple Nacimiento made from corn husks to celebrate Navidad. As I have described before, with the Feast for the Virgin …
Guatemalan Nacimientos or Nativity Scenes
During early December, in Guatemala people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: El Nacimiento
Right at midnight on December 24th/25th, baby Jesus is put in the Nacimiento scene set up on December 8th (do you remember?). …
Guatemalan Nacimiento or Nativity Scene
The official date for the commencement of the Christmas season in Guatemala is December 8th, although many malls and commercial centers, imitating …
Baby Jesus Inside the Nacimiento
On the December 8th, It was Carmen who said, “Baby Jesus was put in his spot within the Nacimiento after we came back from the Misa de Gallo…” in the comments of the entry about the Nacimiento Shrine Niche at Capilla de Belén. Well, I am glad to know that our fellow readers and visitors are eager to fill in all the details and ephemerides that I leave out (out of ignorance). Follow the link if you would like to learn about Nacimientos tradition in Guatemala.
Nacimiento Shrine Niche at Capilla de Belén
One important aspect of this particular Nacimiento is the fact that Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt managed to get himself in the picture of the Nativity shrine. For those who are not well verse in Catholic imagery, myself included, normally the Nativity scene shows Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus along with a few animals. No, Santo Hermano Pedro could not be present there since he was born about 1600 years later, give or take a few moons. Rather, the inclusion of his image, on the right, is to celebrate and to remember that is was Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt who introduced the Nacimiento and Posadas to the American Continent, to La Antigua Guatemala if you want to be precise, and from this old town, this celebration was taken to the rest of the continent.
Happy Holidays Wishes from Antigua Daily Photo
The color red is the official color of Nochebuena and Navidad in Guatemala and nothing exemplifies this better than the Pascua plants, poinsettia flowers… TAP to read the entire post and see the full size photo.
Posada Procession for the Elderly
Started with the night of December 15, there have been sightings of Joseph and Mary’s quest for shelter around the streets of …
Traditional Christmas Decorations in Antigua Guatemala
Everywhere you walk in Antigua Guatemala now you fill Christmas decorations. I captured today’s photo of the traditional posada lanterns and omnipresent …
Mayan Nativity Scene for Christmas Eve
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Nacimiento for Nativity Scene. For those who are not familiar with Catholic imagery, …
First Posada Navideña of 2020
Let the nine days of posadas navideñas begin. Since this morning, December 15th, there have been sightings of Joseph and Mary’s quest …
Merry Christmas wishes from Antigua Guatemala
Did you know that nacimientos, pesebres or Nativity were first introduced to the American Continent through the city of Antigua Guatemala by …
Capilla de Belén in Antigua Guatemala
If you would like to learn more about the Capilla de Belén from Antigua Guatemala, follow the white rabbit!
Día de los Reyes in Antigua Guatemala
For Día de Reyes or Epiphany we break a piece of bread known as Rosca de Día de los Reyes. Whoever gets the plastic baby placed inside has to pay for the tamales and ponche on Día de la Candelaria, February 2nd, or Groundhog Day. Click through the link to see Rosca de Día de los Reyes…
Merry Christmas from Antigua Guatemala
Merry Christmas to y’all!
For today, I decided to shared a humble corn-husk Nacimiento, another popular style found in Guatemala.
Here’s the most complex Nativity scene in Antigua Guatemala in 2018
You must watch the video tour and pictures included in this post to believe the complexity and size of this Nativity scene. Heck, they recreated most landmarks of Antigua Guatemala as part of this Nativity scene.
Guatemalan Christmas Syncretism
Gabriela Orozco García, 19 years old, puts the final touches on a figure of a Mayan-inspired Nativity scene. The Orozco García family from Antigua Guatemala are renown artisans who produce ceramic Nativity scenes with Mayan attires from all regions of Guatemala.
Nativity Scene Inside Iglesia San Francisco El Grande in Antigua Guatemala
The nacimiento or pesebre, Nativity scene, at the San Francisco El Grande church in Antigua Guatemala is even bigger than the one …
Nativity Scene Inside Iglesia La Merced in Antigua Guatemala
The Nacimiento inside Iglesia La Merced is huge. I had to use a fisheye lens to capture most it and I still missed at least 25% of the Nativity scene. Click the link to watch a short video clip of this Nativity Scene.
Nativity Scene at Capilla de Belén in Antigua Guatemala
This week will have a mini series on Nacimientos, Nativity scenes, a Guatemalan tradition that goes hand in hand with Posadas, the enactment of the search for shelter of Joseph and Mary right before Christmas.
2016 Slideshow of the Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala
A few thousand people get together at Barrio de la Concepción in Antigua Guatemala at 6pm on December 7 for the burning …
Maya Nativity Scene
Here’s a Maya-style Nativity scene found as decoration in one the popular hotels here in Antigua Guatemala. In fact, they had quite …
Merry Christmas with a Guatemalan Nativity Scene
As I have explained before, Nacimientos are Nativity (Navidad in Spanish) scenes shrines made to celebrate during the December until Christmas or …
Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala
People gather around Barrio La Conception, Antigua Guatemala, on December 7 at 6pm for La Quema del Diablo, the burning the devil …
Antigua Artisan Triptych: The Potter
Here’s your Spanish word of the day: Alfarero or potter. Today I am also sharing the second triptych of the series. Today’s …
Countdown to Carnival Begins in Antigua Guatemala
If case you missed it, yesterday, February 2, was Día de la Candelaria. As I have explained before, around Antigua Guatemala, many …
Día de Reyes Magos at San Gaspar Vivar
In Christian tradition the Magi (Greek: μάγοι, magoi), Three Wise Men, Three Kings or Kings from the East are said to have …
Christmas Decoration Street Shop
Besides the omnipresent fireworks and firecracker street booths, one can also find Christmas decoration street shops when anyone can pick up Christmas …
Enactment of the Guatemalan Nativity Scene
The other day I had the opportunity to make a couple of photos of the Nativity scene enactment or Nacimiento as people …
Burn The Devil
On December 7 at 6pm the burning the devil and the bad spirits in a cleansing ceremony through the purifying power of …
Antigua Guatemala Tourists
This has to be the high season for tourism during the dry season; everywhere you walk, there are tourist groups. Of course, …
The Three Wise Kings Day or Epiphany in Antigua Guatemala
Unlike other catholic countries, Guatemala does not make a big deal of the arrival of the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Kings) …
Guatemalan Nativity Scene for Christmas Eve
Guatemalans begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes) around December 15; a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo Hermano Pedro …
Typical Guatemalan Nativity Scene
This is also the season of posadas (shelter quest) and nacimientos (nativity scenes) in Latin America, Guatemala and more specifically Antigua Guatemala. …
The Burning of the 13 Baktun Devil in Antigua Guatemala
La Antigua Guatemala is a very small town, heck Guatemala, the country, is just slightly bigger than Antigua Guatemala when it comes …
A Day at the Spring-water Pools of Finca El Pilar
There are three public spring-water pools inside Finca El Pilar. One pool for kids, less than one meter deep, a medium size …
Antigua Guatemala Parking Permits
These news may come as total shock to some of you, but I figure today is as good day as any to …
Posada Enactment for the Elders
Beginning on December 15, there are sightings of Joseph and Mary’s quest for shelter around the streets of La Antigua Guatemala. María …
Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala
La Antigua Guatemala remains as one of the few places where you can meet with hundreds of people willing to Burn the …
Colorful and Tiny Nativity Scenes
Don’t you wish you can have one these adorable Guatemalan nacimientos (nativity scenes) in your own home for the next Christmas? In …
Camouflaging Cellular Towers
Sometimes we don’t realized how lucky we are for living La Antigua Guatemala until we take a little trip beyond the municipal …
Guatemalan Christmas Kitsch
The market in Antigua was a bit mad last night. There’s a whole little enclave of Xmas kitsch at the rear that …
Feliz Noche Buena
Merry Christmas Eve! In Guatemala, Christmas Eve is as important as Christmas. People stay up all night waiting for midnight to have …
Nine Days of Posadas
We interrupt our regularly scheduled December comfort foods series to bring you the following special bulletin. Since yesterday night, December 15, there …
Merry Christmas Decorations
Even though you may seem Christmas decorations as early as September in Guatemala, the official Christmas season celebrations begins with the Burning …
Antigua Churches: Capilla de Belén
Santo Hermano Pedro de San José de Betancourt introduced the Nativity scenes and rituals to the American continent so it is only …
Noche Buena in La Antigua Guatemala
Christmas Eve or Noche Buena in La Antigua Guatemala is celebrated by staying up all night burning firecrackers and fireworks, eating tamales, …
Recycling Sewing Machines
I have talked about the recycling done in La Antigua Guatemala before with Haves and Have-Nots, Public Enemy Number 1, Guatemalan-style Salt …
Guatemalan Water Wells Wet Wealth
First, Blame the trabalenguas, tongue twister, title on emromesco, who said that water will be the oil of the 21st century. Second, …
Día de Reyes or Epiphany in Guatemala
Unlike other Spanish-speaking countries, Guatemala does not make a big deal of the arrival of the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Kings) …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Corderos de Pashte
You saw the lambs made from dried corn husks just a few days ago. Then you saw the Spanish moss or pashte …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Las Posadas
On December 23rd the quest for lodging or the act of pedir posada ends and marks the beginning of preparations for Christmas …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Pashte
One of the most important decorations for the nacimientos is the pashte; also known as paxtle, paste, pastle, or simply heno, which …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Musgo
Musgo is the Spanish word for moss. Musgo is used for the nacimiento scenes (nativities scenes) in Guatemala. You buy musgo by …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Pajilla
Paja (straw) or pajilla (little straw) are also found in the nativity scenes in the Guatemalan homes known as nacimientos in Spanish. …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Gallitos
These tree parasites are known as gallitos or patas de gallo. Once again, I am going to abuse from your kindness and …
Guatemalan Christmas Decorations: Pino
Pino is the name by which Guatemalans refer to the pine needles used as Christmas decorations, specifically, to spread around the floor …
Setting Up Shop for Christmas Season
So after the Burning of the Devil is over and the set up of the Nacimientos has already began, we can assume …
The Disappearance of the Burning of the Devil Tradition in Guatemala
Okay, let me break the bad news to you guys. The Burning of the Devil tradition in Guatemala is disappearing. Even though, …
Colorful Chicken Bus Terminal
A quick trip to the handicrafts market provides a handful of colorful images like the one above. Stay tune for upcoming photos …
Christmas’ Eve or Noche Buena in La Antigua Guatemala
Christmas’ Eve or Noche Buena in La Antigua Guatemala is celebrated by staying up all night burning firecracker, eating tamales or turkey and drinking real fruit punch or hot real chocolate, visiting family, friend and neighbors for the respective abrazo de Noche Buena and buenos deseos (Christmas hug and wishes); many even go to midnight mass. At midnight the presents under the Christmas tree, around the nacimiento (nativity scene), are opened and everyone laughs and hugs indiscriminately everyone around. These celebrations rate the highest on nostalgic memory scale; everyone living abroad wishes to be in Guatemala for this season and for this night in particular.
Stairway to the Mezzanine of Library at Compañía de Jesús Building
One important aspect to highlight about this series about the library is the fact that the guts of the library are contemporary industrial furnishing inside a colonial 16th century building and yet there is harmony between the anachronistic elements.
First Christmas Signs of 2007
Poinsettias or Flor de Pascua are in full bloom in The Land of the Eternal Spring for the Christmas season. Commercial decorations are beginning to show up in shops and restaurants. Soon enough we will have the Burning of the Devil celebrations, Nacimientos, Posadas and everything else that comes with the Christmas season. Soon, even the trees will dress for the holidays.