Christmas colors from the Antigua Guatemala’s Market
Red is the most prominent color around Christmas time. You can see it in the many people who dress up like Santa Claus; in all the special offer fliers, in the firecracker wrappers, in the fruits. In the picture above, you can see a single stand that sells apples, pears, grapes along all kinds of fireworks and firecrackers.
In Guatemala, Christmas Eve is as important as Christmas. People stay up all night waiting for midnight to have tamales with the family and to open up their presents underneath the Christmas tree. People also burn many different types of firecrackers and fireworks. Kids run around the neighborhood given hugs and wishing a Merry Christmas. Right at midnight people burn so many firecrackers and fireworks that you might think it is the third world war. The meal is usually especially-made tamales colorados (red) or negros (black) served with bread slices and freshly-made fruit punch. There is pine-needles over the floor as carpets and long strings of yellow and sweet fruit called manzanilla here or tejocote in Mexico (it looks like a yellow cherry). Christmas Eve is filled with so many colors, flavors and scents; it almost feels like an overload on the senses. If you have experienced Christmas Eve in Guatemala, at least once, it is impossible to be away and not miss it. Christmas Eve is one of the most important celebrations in Guatemala.
I send my cyberhugs and best wishes for the season to all you. I thank you for visiting Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo. Tomorrow I will bring pictures of Tamales colorados and negros.
Daily Content
December 24th, 2006
Merry Christmas! My family and I spent about a month in Antigua in April. We miss it and talk about the city often. Your posts make us want to return soon. Thank you for all the pictures! God Bless and Merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2006
“Noël est là,
Ce joyeux Noël, des cadeaux plein les bras,
Qui réchauffe nos coeurs et apporte la joie,
Jour des plus beaux souvenirs,
Plus beau jour de l’année.”
Washington Irving
JOYEUX NOEL D’EVRY
“Christmas is there,
This Merry Christmas, gifts full arms,
Who heats our hearts and brings the joy,
Day of the most beautiful memories,
More beautiful day of the year.”
Washington Irving
MERRY CHRISTMAS OF EVRY
December 25th, 2006
Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year from Hyde
December 25th, 2006
I with you have wonderful holiday.
Thank you for great hospitality to Meg’s Mum (Mom) other day.
December 25th, 2006
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Even though I am a long time resident of Antigua, I enjoy your website, comments and photos. Just waiting for the next sound of “WWIII” at noon!
Keep up the good work
December 25th, 2006
Feliz Navidad!
Although my family is from Guatemala and I was born there, I grew up in New York and have not had the pleasure of exploring the countries treasures. I love your pictures and can’t wait to plan a trip to the beautiful Antigua. Have a wonderful holiday!
December 25th, 2006
Wonderful colors!
Merry Christmas, Buon Natale!
http://www.novaradailyphoto.blogspot.com
December 25th, 2006
Merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2006
Rudy,
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año y Felicidad…Thanx for the pictures. I have really Enjoyed them. I have a tear in my eye…I am in Los Angeles, and we had Tamales last night at my mom’s house.
Gracias….
December 28th, 2006
Thank you all for your kind words and wishes. Sorry for the bad English in this entry.
January 1st, 2007
[...] Fireworks and firecrackers are burnt everywhere, among a zillion other such pyrotechnic inventions. If you are a pyromaniac, Antigua is your town for Christmas and New Years celebrations. There are so many pyrotechnic things being sold that there is something for everyone. I will try to list some of the most popular and my poor translation of what their name means in English: Cohetes (firecrackers), metralladoras (machine-gun or a series of firecrackers), estrellitas (little stars, this are popular with the kids; today’s photo is from estrellitas), canchinflines (these are whistle fireworks that fly and make scary sound as they approach you), juegos pirotecnicos (fireworks, these are what people most people know as light shows), and a long et-cetera. To get an idea of the stuff available, please take a look at the enlarge photo for December 24th (click to view the enlarged version). All these pyrotechnic stuff can be burnt anywhere; there are no regulations against it. [...]
November 19th, 2007
Hard to believe Christmas is already around the corner. I am ready for some Thanksgiving turkey though.