As I said at the very beginning of the Guatemalan Christmas Decoration series, the pine tree provides many elements of the Christmas decorations for Guatemalans like chicuyas (pine cones) as adornments, pine needles as carpets, and pine rings (cordones de pino). Cordones or cadenas de pino usually hang across the living rooms and around the … Read more
Paja (straw) or pajilla (little straw) are also found in the nativity scenes in the Guatemalan homes known as nacimientos in Spanish. As you can see, many of the Guatemalan Christmas decorations are made from natural plants.
We’re Hombres de Maíz. Follow the white rabbit and you’ll know why! Corderos (lambs) made from tusa (dried corn husk) are very popular around the Christmas season. As decorations goes, these borregos (lamb) made from natural fibers from the dried corn husks can be found in windows, gardens, front yards, doorways, balconies; you name it … Read more
These tree parasites are known as gallitos or patas de gallo. Once again, I am going to abuse from your kindness and ask to provide the English name for this plant that is often found as a parasite in trees. Gallitos are an integral part of the Guatemalan Christmas decorations, quite often found underneath the … Read more
Flor de Pascua, Flor de Noche Buena or simply Pascuas are how poinsettias are known in Guatemala. Poinsettias are native to Guatemala and Mesoamerica and in general can be found in the wild or in gardens as undocumented aliens. Poinsettias or Flor de Pascua are in full bloom in The Land of the Eternal Spring … Read more
The chamomile rings are known as manzanilla in Guatemala (tejocotes in Mexican Spanish). The aroma of a Guatemalan Christmas decoration is provided mainly by the chamomile rings and the pine needles (used as carpets). Other scents around the Christmas season in Guatemala come off from the tamales, ponche (fruit punch) and hot authentic chocolate. The … Read more
Pino is the name by which Guatemalans refer to the pine needles used as Christmas decorations, specifically, to spread around the floor and nacimientos. Pine needles and the chamomile rings provide the scent for a typical Guatemalan Navidad (Christmas).
Chicuyas is the name by which Guatemalans name the part of the pine tree, which I don’t its English name (can you help me with the English name for part of the pine tree). The pine tree provides many elements of the Christmas decorations for Guatemalans, like the pine needle that is spread on the … Read more
Ayudante is title for the guy in the orange shirt. El ayudante, the helper or assistant has in reality many jobs and a meager salary. For starters he’s primary job is to help the chicken bus pilot; that’s where he takes his title. But he is also the fare collector, the usher, the carrier, the … Read more
Sometimes things are so obvious that one doesn’t mull over them; that’s the way things are and you accept it. While taking the shot of this basket with the day’s groceries bought at the market, a simple fact became crystal clear. I thought well this basket looks kind of heavy, I am glad to know … Read more
The world infamous chicken bus reinvents itself again. The chicken bus that was born out of a retired school bus from our neighbors from up north; a second life or recycling ( whatever you want to call it); transformed itself into a mass public transit bus for the rural areas of Guatemala. Well, the chicken … Read more
Here’s the scoop and the ice cream, vanilla flavored and once it gets put on the cone they top it with acid-sweet syrup that ice cream men called chirmol. Chirmol is the Guatemalan name for a tomato-based sauce with peppermint, onions and hot chiles; so this is not what they put on the ice cream. … Read more
Well, you know I have shown the traditional Guatemalan ice cream carts before, but this is a first look inside the cart. The Helados La Favorita cart is made from wood, with a few hands of oil-based paint, a drawing of the ever-present Disney characters. Inside there is a metal bucket which holds the ice … Read more
Whether the climate is cold, windy, rainy, or sunny, the ice cream carts go out to satisfy the needs of the ice cream lovers everywhere around Antigua Guatemala. In the picture above, you can see three Guatemalan traditional ice cream carts from La Favorita (the favorite) being prepared for sunny day. Come back tomorrow if … Read more
Okay, get your Guatemalan notebook handy, we’re about to learn a few Guatemalan words and concepts. Rabo Guisado translate roughly as ox tail stew: rabo would be the ox tail and guisado would be stew. The first time I learned about how all these dishes based on entrails, guts, and left-overs of animals came to … Read more