Christmas

Christmas Fireworks Street Shop

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Guatemala’s a pyromaniac hell or paradise, what is it? Since Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are the perfect night for fireworks and firecrackers lovers in Guatemala with colourful and loud explosions going off all night long, especially so around midnight. In theory, one could measure the state of the Guatemalan economy by the amount … Read more

This Christmas Give Your Talent and Creativity As Gifts

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Instead of buying stuff, these two musicians decided to play and sing some Christmas carols for a group of shoe-shiner boys who gave them their total undivided attention. What a wonderful way of showing appreciation and love for others. In my opinion, this is much better than actually buying gifts. So, this Christmas, if you … Read more

Fireworks Rockets for Christmas season

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Anyone who has spent Christmas and/or New Year in Guatemala can agree Guatemalans are bunch of pyromaniacs. Even Boing Boing editor Xeni Jardin had this to say to a guy asking why she wasn’t paying attention to the fireworks on 4th of July in the U.S. Xeni Jardin: Guy in café last night: Why aren’t … Read more

Posada Nights in Antigua Guatemala

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Since the night of December 15, there have been sightings of Joseph and Mary’s quest for shelter around the streets of La Antigua Guatemala. María and José are walking around Antigua Guatemala, knocking on people’s doors to ask for posada. Our eye witness reporter has been able to gather the following information regarding the quest … Read more

Enactment of the Guatemalan Nativity Scene

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The other day I had the opportunity to make a couple of photos of the Nativity scene enactment or Nacimiento as people call them in Antigua Guatemala. If you don’t know what Nacimientos are, read on what I published at Nacimiento Shrine Niche at Capilla de Belén. By the way, the girl in the middle … Read more

Guatemalan Nacimiento Enactment

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With the Feast for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, antigüeños 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 should be … Read more

Christmas Lights at Antigua Guatemala’s Main Square

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There are over 200,000 lights over the trees of La Antigua’s main square. These are the main Christmas lights decorations you will find in Antigua Guatemala. These Christmas lights will illuminate the Parque Central during the Navidad season. For extra bonus points, what date is Christmas season over in La Antigua Guatemala?

Guatemalan Christmas Food

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Among the most popular foods found for dinner in Christmas Eve and during Christmas are tamales colorados (red tamales), tamales negros (black tamales), pierna, pavo (turkey) for main dishes. Also, apples and grapes are almost always found at the table. For drinks the most popular is ponche (fresh or dried fruit punch), but you can … Read more

Guatemalan Nacimiento for Christmas Eve in Antigua

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Here’s a simple Nacimiento made from corn husks to celebrate Navidad. As I have described before, with the Feast for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, 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 … Read more

In The Christmas Mood

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Poinsettias or Flor de Pascua are in full bloom in The Land of the Eternal Spring for the Christmas season. 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 … Read more

Guatemalan Christmas Kitsch

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The market in Antigua was a bit mad last night. There’s a whole little enclave of Xmas kitsch at the rear that I’ve never witnessed before: flashing lights, coloured sawdust, statues of magi bearing frankincense, ovejas de tusa, pine needles etc. Of course I’d left my camera behind. Might go back this evening after picking … Read more

Guatemala Is A Pyromaniac’s Hell

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Guatemalan Fireworks Booth

Guatemala’s a pyromaniac hell or paradise, what is it?

I remember reading earlier this year a tweet from Xeni Jardin, one of BoingBoing’s editors, that she was not impressed with the 4th of July fireworks display in unknown city in the U.S. because after having witnessed the non-stop burning of firecrackers, fireworks and every piece of a pyromaniac’s fetish in Central America she was spoiled.

I say that you have live it to believe Xeni’s declaration. In the meantime, I share with you two video clips of the fireworks burnt in one section of Guatemala. Remember, to get an idea of the magnitude of the burning of the fireworks, you have to multiply by 360° in every street of every colonia, village, town and city in Guatemala. So, if you decide to witness the burning of firecrackers and fireworks in Guatemala, make sure you bring earplugs; these are not included. 😉

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