Pinar Istek from XelaDailyPhoto thinks she can win by publishing amazing photos of the half marathon in Xela. Ha, she doesn’t know we also have several marathons in La Antigua Guatemala, including the world famous Medio Maratón Las Rosas (Half Marathon Las Rosas). However, Pinar doesn’t know we also have a very unique running race … Read more
There’s no way to go by Día de Todos Los Santos (All Saints’ Day) and Día de los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls’ Day) celebrations in Guatemala without showing the world-famous and omnipresent dish of Fiambre. No way José, I would never do that, not for some imperfect-perfect kites photos.
Have you ever seen more colorful salad?
Once again I present to you the fiambre creator from La Antigua Guatemala. Every first and second of November he withdraws the fiambre recipe that has delighted the taste buds of the most demanding fiambre connoisseur for over 27 years. From his unassuming Lo-Mix comedor set on 7a calle poniente No. 25B, he begins, like an artist, to paint the canvas with different shades of green lettuce, adding more colors, textures and flavors with each layer from a tasteful palette of over 40 ingredients.
Below you can find a slideshow with each step of the process of creating the colorful fiambre chapín.
I am still getting over a cold, so I was a bit hesitant to leave home for All Saints Day. However, since a friend reminded me to pick up some fiambre she saved for me, which tasted just like the one my Mom makes. So, anyway, I ended up doing a lot of driving just … Read more
In Guatemala we celebrate Día de Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day) on November 1 and Día de Los Fieles Difuntos (Day of the Dead) on November 2. For these holidays Guatemalans prepare a very special once-a-year meal that goes by the name of fiambre. Guatemalans also spend time with the family at the cemetery … Read more
On October 20, Guatemala celebrates its Día de la Revolución (Revolution’s Day) and everybody gets the day off as it is a national holiday. Well, almost everybody, I am going to be working. 🙁 Guatemala always manages to be at the cross roads of historic events. Let me share with you two such instances. First, … Read more
In Guatemala, October 12 is a national holiday known as Día de la Raza or Day of the Race. October 12 is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in the Americas, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century.
So, once you know that in Guatemala the October 12 holiday is officially known as Día de la Raza and that in Spain is known as Día de la Hispanidad I found a little ironic that Prensa Libre published a note with the following title: Marchas y carreteras bloqueadas en el Día de la Hispanidad since the news report is about manifestations in Guatemala. Certainly editors in Prensa Libre have a monkey on their back, which is just a reflection of the Guatemalan idiosyncrasies and low self-esteem. For a country with an official indigenous or native population of 60% or more and unofficially close to 90% most Guatemalans will tell you that their grandparents were pure 100% Spaniards. Another characteristic, or let’s call it a feature, of Guatemalans is how much emphasis is put on last names; like if by magic a Spanish-sounding last name could erase our mix ancestry.
All this talk about España and Spanish reminded me about a recent study entitled “El español en la red” (Spanish on the Internet) which found that the Spanish language is the third most often used language on the interwebs, after English and Chinese. So if you want to understand 46% of what’s available on the Internet or at least comprehend the song below, you must learn Spanish. That’s right, October 12 should be a reminder that soon enough Spanish will the official language of all the countries in the American continent; and by American continent, I don’t mean the U.S., but all the countries from Canada to Argentina. 😉
To finish this entry with a smile on our face, I would like to share with you the humoresque piece Valona de la conquista by Botellita de Jeréz, a Mexican rock band, formed in Mexico City in 1982. Their music is a fusion of rock, cumbia, and Mexican traditional music like mariachi and son, creating the genre called guacarrock (rock and guacamole). If you want to know more about Botellita de Jeréz, follow the white rabbit to Wikipedia. Enjoy!
On October 1 Guatemala celebrates Día del niño translated Child’s Day or Children’s Day. I grabbed my camera and went to the Plaza Mayor (the Main Plaza) to see if I could captured some pictures to show you some happy faces. I am happy to report a mission accomplished and then some. I probably have … Read more
Once again Leonel “Nelo” Mijangos is sharing his photographs with us. Yesterday Nelo showed us some his photos for the student parades serpentining around La Antigua Guatemala on September 14. Today he continues with another slide show of the vistas for the 189th Independence Day. Let’s thank Nelo for getting early and chasing down the parades for our benefit. 😉
Here’s Guatemala’s National Anthem in English and Español
Today I am happy to present my very good friend Leonel “Nelo” Mijangos photographs. Even though he has appeared twice in AntiguaDailyPhoto, this is the first time we get a chance to appreciate his photography. Nelo was kind enough to share with us some his photos to help us understand the Independence school parades.
Most people in Guatemala often say that Guatemalans are not very “patriotic” and immediately mention how patriotic the Mexicans really are: “that’s really patriotism!” Heck I even heard an hour long radio show today discussing it.
Having said that, one can see the first glances of the Independence Day preparations back in July, or earlier, with student bands practices (#1). Of course, there is plenty of Independence Day bunting everywhere since the first days of September and a lot of street vendors selling flags in all shades of blue, even though only one blue is the official (#2). One week before September 15, there are student parades from pre-primary to high school on the streets of every town in the country (#3). Don’t forget the marathons with their patriotic torches(#4). In every school, government building and town’s main plaza there are Pledges of Alliance to the Flag, although here we call it Juramiento a la bandera, and the singing of Guatemala’s National Anthem recitals; check out last year’s Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera to read Guatemala’s National Anthem in English (#5). In some towns, there are enactments of the Signing of Independence Act (#6). 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 (#7). There are, of course, speeches remembering the signing of the Independence Act and how many years has been thus far (188) since 1821 (#8). Last but not least, the burning of firecracker bombs, firecrackers and fireworks, which may include Torito firecracker burnings (#9).
That’s what Guatemalans, who are not very “patriotic”, do to celebrate their Independence.
Guatemalans are not known for being patriotic; yeah Guatever! Nevertheless, we do have our patriotic symbols like El Quetzal, our most beautiful emerald resplendent bird; La Monja Blanca, Guatemala’s national flower— a rare orchid; La Ceiba, Guatemala’s national tree —majestic and sacred portals to Xibalbá; The Flag; The National Anthem; Los Próceres, the leaders of Guatemala’s Independence Movement; The Marimba, et cetera. A long list which I will tackle in the next few days.
Today’s photos captured a quiet moment while some kids were reading and learning about the patriotic symbols that perpetuate a nation. Below, there is a video that shows the opposite: frenetic youthful energy. For better or worse, that’s how we are, conservative and peaceful most of the time, but we know how to party when the opportunity arises.
Our very dear friend Kara from HablaGuate published this wonderful video of a marching band rehearsal in preparation for the Independence Day festivities on September 14 and 15. Interesting enough I drove by almost at the same time, but I was rushing and I could not stop to take a picture or record a video clip. I am so glad Kara did. This is what she wrote on her personal blog NewMaya in her post Dancing to the music before Independence Day.
These are the most common license plates in La Antigua Guatemala right now. I could go as far as saying that there are more Salvadoreans license plates than Guatemalans. Why are Salvadoreans are flocking to Antigua Guatemala, I hear you ask? Two reasons. One, Salvadoreans are enjoying the time off because of the San Salvador … Read more
An earthquake struck Guatemala on July 29, 1773 and had an estimated epicentral intensity magnitude of 7.5 Mi. It was followed by numerous aftershocks which lasted until December 1773. The series of all these earthquakes is also referred to as the Santa Marta earthquakes as it had started on the feast day of Saint Martha. … Read more
Today, for instance, in Guatemala we celebrate Día del padre, Father’s Day. So I decided to share with you three photos of a series of a father and her daughter having a tender lunch. The little girl refused to take the byte unless her dad gave it to her on the mouth. These three photos are in reverse order, so the first frame is the thumbnail on the right, next the thumbnail of the left and finally the photograph above as they break into smiles and happy moments. There other photos with both of them smiling, but I love the mirada juguetona, playful look of the lit
Here’s a lesson to be learned. Even though San Pedro Las Huertas was one of the villages that was hit the hardest in La Antigua Guatemala by Nature’s tropical storm Agatha, here they are building Nature-inspired floats for their annual beauty pageant. The people of San Pedro Las Huertas decided to show their appreciation for Nature and the environment by building most of their carrozas with green foliage plants, flowers, water, planet Earth, moon and the stars themes. They are not the least resentful about Nature’s recent catastrophes.
Below, I am sharing with you the rest of the photos I took; I hope you can get a feel for their beauty pageant, the atmosphere and the happy Guatemala smiles. Let me know what do your own feeling about it!
Foot Bool with the African spelling is how the people of San Pedro Las Huertas want to let everyone know that the World Cup of Foot Ball (not the U.S. meaning) brings borders and people together. The World Cup is now everywhere; of course that if you live a sheltered life in the U.S., you … Read more
