On September 15th, at 6 p.m. all over main squares and central parks of Guatemala there is a civic act known as La arriada de la bandera (Haul down of the flag). The ceremony include several solemn activities like Juramento a la bandera (pledge alliance to the flag); Canto del Himno Nacional de Guatemala (Singing … Read more
Here is gift for those of you who like to collect the desktop wallpapers for your computer (18 so far). From here you can download the Guatemalan Flag wallpaper to help you get in the mood for the Guatemalan Independence Day celebrations. Don’t ever say I don’t give you presents! 😉 Okay Rudy, I don’t … Read more
Hey, what did you say about us? With this one-of-kind humorous image I wave goodbye to the Wear it and Play it with Pride series. I hope you have enjoy the series and have a little better understanding of the indigenous people of Guatemala. I know I do. Please, share all your comments, opinions and … Read more
Boy, is this kid so cute or what? And photogenic too! He move around, from left to right and back, withot removing his gaze on me while playing the drums and the turtle shells, as trying to give me his best angle. I was delighted. If you see them next time you come to La … Read more
Play it and wear it with pride, I am sure, is the advice this father tells his sons. Did I mention resilience as one of the qualities of the indigenous people of Guatemala? What do you think, am I wrong? These indigenous musicians appeared before in LAGDP, can you tell me when? VIDEO UPDATE: Thanks … Read more
Regardless of how I may feel about the marimba, this instrument and its waling sound are very important to Guatemalans all over. For instance, this school band parade did not begin marching until the marimba arrived. What are your feelings about marimba music? Video coming soon… [bliptv]1180827[/bliptv]
I know that Guatemalan Danzas and Bailes Tradicionales are an integral part of the folklore and culture of Guatemala, but I must admit I know very little about them. These traditional dances are so important that many people are documenting, writing and publishing books about them. I happen to know one of them and next … Read more
Sure, you say, the traje indígena is a far out outfit, but are there really symbols encoded in these garments? Once again, I will let Julia Montoya answer: “An ever present motif is the zig-zag horizontal stripe, which in Kaqchikel is called Kumatz (serpent or snake). There is also the star or flower which has … Read more
Lo que no se conoce no se ama One can not love what one does not know — Julia Montoya Source: Interview to Julia Montoya, author of With their hands and their eyes in Revista Domingo, September 7, 2007 {ñ} What I admire the most from the indigenous people of Guatemala is their resilience. They … Read more
Last week, as we watch the delegations parade at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Inauguration, I was thinking how wonderful it was to see so many different and unique national dresses from the many countries around the world. Some of the delegations opted for a no-frills-western-style tie-shirt-suit formal dress code, while others chose to show off … Read more
A simple photo of the doorway to Licuados Claudia in La Antigua Guatemala generates over 15 comments; I take one as the diving board for this entry. Coltrane_lives commented: “… In my photo, out front of the store, there is a little type of grill with three legs welded to what looks to be a … Read more
Pues, what better way to explain one of the most confusing word-expressions in the Spanish language than to tell you about Manolo, alias El toronteco? Pues, El toronteco (from Toronto), alias Manolo, was the famous commenter that began each comment with ‘Pues‘ before he decided to finally open up his own space, pues. Pues, like … Read more
Sometimes silence is louder than thunder! That was the case this past Saturday at the inauguration of the exhibit “Los Desaparecidos” (The Disappeared) where the Guatemalan Social Democrat government opted for the silence. We hear you load and clear, alright.
In the photo above you can observe several percussion traditional Guatemalan musical instruments like chinchines (the black rattles made from gourds, seeds and other objects), tortuga (turtle shell), shellfish shell, drum, sonajas (rattles) and the omnipresent marimba (which you saw yesterday). Guatemala has a rich assortment of traditional musical instruments which are used in the … Read more
It is so good to have friends who are artists; they keep you cultivated and entertained. Such is the case of Rodolfo de León, alias “Fofo” to his friends, whom I met many years ago. Along those years, I have witnessed many of his artistic manifestations; always something new and fresh. This season, Fofo and … Read more