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It was only last week that I told you that often during December or the Christmas season, there are several free concerts around La Antigua Guatemala. La Antigua Guatemala’s cathedral is use as backdrop for concerts and recitals. By looking at the larger version of that day’s photo one can agree at the excellent choice.

Well, it seems like the Palacio de los Capitanes building is also often used as backdrop for concerts and recitals. Remember for World Aids Day, Palacio de los Capitanes was used as backdrop for the marimba concert.

Wow, I wonder how many free concerts and recitals there have been already since December 1. I love all the Free Culture available in La Antigua Guatemala year round, don’t you?

I taped a little clip of the Christmas Carol of this afternoon. Enjoy!

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I love the possibilities of street photography in La Antigua Guatemala. Almost every day you can go out and come back with good material if you keep your eyes wide open, your mind without filters and your finger ready on the shutter button.

How often you can capture the first steps of a baby, really? I call it luck, pure luck. I am big believer in chance, chaos and randomness; synchronicity and serendipity are probably better terms. What do you think, am I lucky or what?

Ephemerides Aside: Today was the first day of Posadas in La Antigua Guatemala. I have 8 more chances to take some photos of posadas before Christmas. Are you interested in seeing photos of posadas and learning about this important Guatemalan tradition?

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I will let you guys do the caption for this photo by digging through the archives of AntiguaDailyPhoto. Here are the hints: Churrasco and Convivio.

Guatemalan Film Trailers Aside: Once again, we continue showing trailers of Guatemalan films and short films. This is the trailer for Puro mula, the first film by Best Picture System. Puro mula was recently film between August and September 2009 in Guatemala City. “I hope you like the trailer, and if you do, give us money to finish it” the caption reads.

Pascuas (Guatemala) and Flor de Noche Buena (Mexico) are how poinsettias are known in Spanish. Poinsettias are native to Guatemala and Mexico and in general can be found in the wild or in gardens as undocumented aliens.

Pascuas are in full bloom in The Land of the Eternal Spring from late October through March. The most common color is red, but now you can find yellow, white, pink and mixed at your local nursery and shops. Pascuas are an integral part of the Guatemalan decoration for the Christmas season and beyond. They are also given as present quite often.

The crimson of poinsettias is now an integral part of the Guatemalan Christmas rainbow. Pascuas are often found in businesses and homes along with pine needle as Christmas decorations. According to industry statistics, Guatemala is the top grower of poinsettias in the world. Guatemala produces 60 million poinsettias which represents 80% of the production in the world (source: Prensa Libre).

In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuetlaxochitl meaning “skin flower.” The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication.

The plants’ association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson “blossoms” sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Christmas season in Guatemala brings along a complete feast to the senses; especially aromas, colors and flavors. Which sense do you prefer I focus on for the upcoming entries?

In La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations draw together all kinds of heterogeneous people and the feast day of Virgen de Guadalupe is no exception. On December 12 celebrations of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe, you can find gringa moms, indigenous mamás, ladino madres and white mamás all taking their children dressed with indigenous clothes to visit the altar of La Virgen Morena. In many cases you have grandmas and the whole family taking part of the visit to Virgin of Guadalupe inside Iglesia de La Merced.

Also, while taking the shots that you can see below in the slide show, as I was bombarded with the scents of pine needles, firecracker’s polvora (powder), tropical fruits, traditional Guatemalan Christmas foods, copal incense, candles, on and on. My sense of smell received a jolt and my memories were flowing nonstop. I believe that only for Semana Santa and Navidad I can experience life with a totally awaken sense of smell that brings on a hurricane of memories. Do you know what I mean?

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Often during December or the Christmas season, there are several free concerts around La Antigua Guatemala. For instance, the photo above was taken on December 11, the eve of Virgen de Guadalupe Celebrations and there is another concert programmed for December 12.

Often La Antigua Guatemala’s cathedral is use as backdrop for concerts and recitals. By looking at the larger version of today’s photo one can agree at the excellent choice.

I really like the dramatic façades of the spot illuminated churches and ruins around La Antigua Guatemala.

Can you tell me what are those white dots on the top right corner?

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The last time I showed you a sampler of Guatemalan bread was on May 1, 2006. Wow, times flies!

Today’s photo was taken at Panadería Santa Clara, about one block South of Tanque de la Unión. Panadería Santa Clara is one of my favorite places to buy bread in La Antigua Guatemala. The selection goes from quesadillas to empanadas de leche, passing through the entire cornucopia of Guatemalan bread.

Now, please, take a closer look at the first option from the left. That’s right the little sign reads Quesadillas. Obviously, Guatemalan quesadillas are nothing like the Mexican quesadillas. I have told before to be careful with shared names of Guatemalan and Mexican cuisines since quite often they name represent entirely different dishes.

Okay Rudy, what are you talking about, what dishes share the name but are different? Well, I will describe a couple words and I will let other readers tell and describe many more dishes.

Let’s begin with quesadillas. The Mexican quesadillas at its most basic form is just a tortilla, flour or corn, with melted cheese inside and normally folded over one half. Guatemalan quesadilla is a sweet bread made from rice flour and dried cheese.

Okay, here’s the list of other meals that come to mind right now: Tacos, Tostadas, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Ceviche, Chiles Rellenos, Tamales, Mole, and Pepian just to name a few. Please, describe the differences between these Mexican and Guatemalan meals. Also, what other meals can you tell us that have a shared name?

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One of the goals of AntiguaDailyPhoto is to bring you new fresh vistas from the same hackneyed places. Today’s is an example of a new perspective for the overly-exposed Iglesia de La Merced, quite possibly Antigua Guatemala’s most photographed church.

Even I have already shown you the façade, the dome, the atrium, the main doorway, the baroque details of Iglesia de La Merced. I have tried not to show you the most obvious places and the most often photographed sites unless I can bring a new fresh vista or a different angle. Remember, this is not a tourist-oriented site (well, at least I try not to make it one).

Have I succeeded, please, let me know your thoughts?

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I have talked about the recycling done in La Antigua Guatemala before with Haves and Have-Nots, Public Enemy Number 1, Guatemalan-style Salt and Pepper Shakers, Chicken Buses are The Second Life of School Buses, and Antigua’s Biodiesel Project (just to name a few).

It never ceases to amaze me the creativity and ingenuity of Guatemalans when it comes to extending the life or recycling what elsewhere is considered junk. Today’s entry is such an example of how to turn around a pile of old and broken sewing machines and finding new uses for them.

What do you think about these tables made from recycled sewing machines?

Ephemerides Aside: The official date for the commencement of the Christmas season in Guatemala is December 8, although many malls and commercial centers, imitating the businesses from up north, begin decorating for Christmas right after Independence Day, celebrated in Guatemala on September 15th.

With the Feast for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and then spread to the rest of America (the continent).

One important aspect of nacimientos is that baby Jesus is missing from the scene since his actual birthday is on December 25th. In the mean time, the quest of shelter by Marí a and José begins; these celebrations are known in Guatemala as Posadas.

The Christmas season is officially over on Día de Reyes, Epiphany. Unlike other Spanish-speaking countries, Guatemala does not make a big deal of the arrival of the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Kings) known as Epiphany in English; a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6. Except, of course, for burning firecrackers and ringing bells of the churches right at noon, which seems to be Guatemalans’ favorite way of announcing or marking a holiday or event.

Also, for many people, Día de los Reyes marks the end of the Christmas season, although around Antigua Guatemala, many people keep their Nacimientos and Christmas decorations until February 2nd, Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), which incidentally is Groundhog Day in the United States. The day after February 2nd the Christmas lights around Antigua’s Main Plaza will be pick up and put away.

All year long he hides under the bed or in the junk piled up in the corner, casting misfortune or worse on helpless mortals. But on Wednesday, December 7, at 6 p.m. sharp, the Devil gets his comeuppance, as he is tossed out of the house along with the trash and set ablaze in the Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil), a tradition in many Guatemalan towns that literally sparks the beginning of the Christmas Season.

The origins of the Quema del Diablo in Guatemala can be traced to colonial times, when the well-to-do adorned the fronts of their homes with elaborate lanterns on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, explains historian Miguel Álvarez Arévalo. Unable to afford lanterns, poor denizens instead lit bonfires made of kindling and the trash from their homes. The practice over time evolved into the Quema del Diablo. (Quoted from Juan Carlos Ordoñez’s article The Devil Gets His Due in Revue Magazine—click the link to continue reading the article.)

It occurred to me very late on December 7 that perhaps this year I should do a time-lapse video of the Quema del Diablo, Burning of the Devil. However, since I have never done a time lapse video, I had no idea how to do it. So, a slide show with a few photos of the climax of the Burning of the Devil will have to do this year. I promise, I will learn how to do time lapse videos as soon as possible and I will bring you some interesting videos pretty soon. Stay tune!

Please, take you time to let me know what you think of the slide show of the Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala?

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What’s the relationship between Guatemalan filmmaker Diego Combi, Carlos Fuentes’ Constancia and Other Stories for Virgins and Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?

The answer is one word. The first person that comes up with the right answer will receive one of the following LAGDP’s Christmas cards via regular snail-mail with postage stamps from Guatemala. The game is on!

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The last meeting of the Club Fotográfico de Antigua was quite a blast with some very interesting guests like Iván Castro, James Rodríguez and Diego Colombi.

First, my good friend Iván Castro, founding member of FlickrGuatemala, decided to pay us a visit to see what’s exactly happening at the photo club. Check out Iván’s most recent photos of Lake Atitlán to see how a bacteria is killing the most beautiful lake in the world.

Next, James Rodríguez from MiMundo.org, came to talk about his photography, his world and tell us anecdotes from this photo-taking process in the remote villages of Guatemala. Check out James’ amazing photojournalistic work!

Last, but not least, Diego Colombi, a Guatemalan filmmaker, based out of Savannah, Georgia, who recently directed and produced A’plas; the story of Father Stanley Rother. A’plas is already bringing home the accolades. I promise I will do a review of A’plas as soon as Diego puts it online. I have already seen A’plas, but I want to share the documentary with you.

The Club Fotográfico de Antigua is becoming a wonderful hot spot for photography and art lovers in La Antigua Guatemala. See the benefits of gardening at night.

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I have shown you before the Tanque de la Unión public washbasins, but I don’t think I ever showed you what they look like in a typical laundry day in Antigua Guatemala.

Below you can find two different takes on the same Tanque de la Unión from Upside Down Arches and Arches Reflected.

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La Antigua Guatemalal joined the other cities in the world that, on December 1, observed World Aids Day, Día mundial del sida, with cultural and awareness-promoting activities.

There was, of course, the omni-present marimba music, speeches, parades, skateboarding, rollerblading, et cetera. Red ribbons and white t-shirts bearing the red ribbon stamps and information about Día mundial del sida were handed out by the Human Rights Commission and the Minister of Education.

All in all, there was a great relax atmosphere around La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park.

How was World Aids Day observed in your city?

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Roller skaters and skate-boarders using the Central Park is something you don’t see very often. There are plenty of skaters in La Antigua Guatemala, but they are not allowed to use Parque Central. The exception was made on December 1 as part of activities for Día mundial del sida (World Aids Day).

I also took advantage of the relax atmosphere I took quite a number of jumps. Check out the slide show. Enjoy!
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