Cultural

Lighting Up the Independence Torch

by
Lighting Up the Independence Torch by Rudy Giron

The Liberty Torches Marathons Have Began. As in previous years, people from all over Guatemala begin a marathon to go to another part of the country to get the flame so they can bring back the Independence Torch back to their communities. There are many places the have a torch where other people from other … Read more

#MiércolesDeCumbia from Guatemala to the World

by
#MiércolesDeCumbia from Guatemala to the World by Rudy Giron

After marimba music, cumbia has been the most popular musical genre in Guatemala. The phenomenonal comeback of Cumbia music in Guatemala is due in part to “Miercoles de Cumbia” or Cumbia Wednesdays started in Guatemala City last year loosely organized through the hashtag #miercolesdecumbia on Twitter, but now you can find #MiércolesDeCumbia as far north … Read more

Making Alfombras for Corpus Christi Feast

by
Making Alfombras for Corpus Christi Feast by Rudy Girón

The making of carpets from sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables, et cetera is a community-forming tradition. People get together by block or near-by neighbors to create the carpets on which the processions will walk through. Sometimes the making of the carpets is done at night, all night so they are ready for next day’s procession. The … Read more

Presentation of the Ballet Nacional de Guatemala in Antigua Guatemala

by
Presentation of the Ballet Nacional de Guatemala in Antigua Guatemala by Rudy Girón

Tonight we were very lucky in Antigua Guatemala because we had the rare opportunity to see the Ballet Nacional de Guatemala performed in the San José El Viejo Church ruins, one of my favorite venues for artistic manifestations. Some of you may remember these ruins as the backdrop for the entry Free Culture where the … Read more

Siesta time in Antigua Guatemala

by
Siesta time in Antigua Guatemala by Rudy Girón

Siesta time used to be sacred in Antigua Guatemala. Almost all business stop for lunch and siesta time between 12pm and 3pm or 1pm and 3pm. Nowadays, many businesses are owned by foreigners and the tradition of siesta is being lost. Heck, many businesses are not even closing for lunch anymore. Even though it’s convenient … Read more

Colorful Eggshells for the Guatemalan Carnival

by

As published last year, these colorful Guatemalan cascarones [eggshells] filled with confetti are known as cascarones de carnaval [carnival] and they mark the arrival of carnaval and then Ash Wednesday (Miércoles de ceniza), which is the first day of Lent (Cuaresma). That’s right folks, on Wednesday we will begin the count down to The World … Read more

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

by

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love – The Blues Brothers by Blues Brothers Soundtrack on Grooveshark In Guatemala Valentine’s Day has a much wider meaning since Día del cariño, Day of affection or caring, is about celebrating all the different manifestations of love and caring. Let the Blues Brothers bring the message of Día del cariño … Read more

Volcán de Agua Climb: Subida por la vida

by
Subida por la Vida by Nelo Mijangos

Subida por la Vida by Nelo Mijangos

Subida por la vida logoOn January 21, Under the name of Subida por la vida, there were over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) to form the largest heart in the world at 12,335 feet as part of campaign to bring awareness and to reduce domestic violence. The event will also be a party with music and foot ball matches (the real McCoy) in different venues in Antigua Guatemala. Subida por la vida also stands as manifestation for Peace where Guatemalans want to demonstrate and let the world know that we want peace and we will not tolerate violence any longer.

Read more

Every day we die a little

by

Every day we die a little

I never realized how much people die every day until I lived in a town where almost each death is announced by the PA system installed on the church on the main plaza. Through these announcements and the funeral processions and motorcades I have encountered I also learned that the grieving is also a communal event. When I stop to pay attention to the PA announcements often the name of the passing person is giving and the address where the mourning will be held and everyone is invited to assist.

These expressions of the strong community relationships forged through constant interactivity are often foreign to me since I have lived most of my life in big cities where often these community relationships rarely happen. I don’t know if I’m making any sense because I don’t think I have been able to seized these feelings and emotions into words. Am I?

How are deaths, funerals and mourning treated where you live?

Read more

We’re Women of Maize

by

As I said before, it is impossible to think of the Guatemalan, Mexican and Mesoamerican diet without maize. From the Popul Vuh (Popol Wuj in modern spelling), the Mayan equivalent of the Bible, which states that humans were literally created from maize, to Miguel Ángel Asturias‘ novel Hombres de maíz (Men of Maize) which is … Read more

Selling Comales

by

What better way to start the new year than with a brand new clay comal to cook the best tasting tortillas. A comal like the ones shown above will set you back Q30/$2.75 if I recall correctly. Sadly, clay comales are disappearing as most tortillerías now are using metal comales with gas instead of leña … Read more