Antigua’s Owl Banks
If you keep your savings in one this owl banks, you will not have to make the long lines at the modern banks to withdraw cash. Too bad these owl banks are not for sale; only their replicas are on sale. According to the clerks at La Dulcería de Doña María Gordillo (candy store), these owls are over hundred years old and they are NOT for sale.
Believe it or not, many people in Guatemala still used this type of piggy-banks made from ceramic. Have you ever used a similar bank?
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October 16th, 2006
When I was a kid, I used to have this type of piggy banks. It was a long long time ago
October 16th, 2006
Never had enough money to have any spare to put in one!
October 16th, 2006
I used to have a big plastic troll doll piggy bank. The head was so difficult to get off I rarely used it.
I love your website. Antigua is one of my favorite cities. And is my favorite for Central America. I was there 2 years ago and stayed at Hotel Aurora. Lovely!
October 16th, 2006
Those owls are cute, but I presume they do not offer the benefit of compound interest. I’m sticking with mutual funds and real estate!
October 16th, 2006
Tanty: So I take it you don’t use piggy banks anymore.
Pamela: Somehow, I just cann’t believe you “…never had enough money.”
Caribbean Colors: I enjoyed reading your profile at your website. Incredible!
October 16th, 2006
Boundforceiba: You are right about the real estate part, especially in Central America.
October 16th, 2006
LOL! Oh, believe it, because it’s true.
October 16th, 2006
Rudy, Who made the original owls? I think I prefer the copper pans hanging above them.
October 16th, 2006
I’m with Kate on the copper pans… love them!
And Rudy: I don’t know how it is in Antigua, but I find real estate in La Ceiba prohibitively expensive. I have no plans (sadly) to invest there at this time. I can get a house in Minneapolis for less!
***But I still love La Ceiba, in spite of its cheeky real estate market… :-)***
October 17th, 2006
Kate: I do not know who made the owls. I will ask though.
Boundforceiba: I believe real estate in and around La Antigua Guatemala is among the most expensive in Central America. Hey, you are not in Minneapolis anymore: here, prices are outrageously and insanely high!
March 1st, 2007
I tried to buy these too and was so sad they were not for sale. But the little birds in there were…
April 18th, 2008
I think it’s important to know the real meaning of these owls; Actually I’m doing a research about it.. in Antigua city, and Sacatepequez in general the owl means Luck, Prosperity and abundance specially with money; that’s why the ceramic artisans estarted to use this icon in “piggy banks”.. if you get an “owl bank” you’ll have prosperity with the money you’r saving. Hope you’ll enjoy the info.
May 8th, 2008
[...] According to Damara, in Guatemala, owls or tecolotes represent luck, prosperity and abundance, especially with money and that is why ceramic artisans use owls as piggy banks. If you get an owl bank, you will have prosperity with income and savings. Boy oh boy, if I was the president of Guatemala, I would make all the alfareros (ceramic artisans) produce nothing but owl banks… perhaps then, the luck of this tiny banana republic would change for good. [...]