Day of the Dead Candy: Quiebradientes

Quiebradientes, teethbrakers, are typical and traditional hard candy from Guatemala. As the name implies, it is hard and it can break your teeth you have weak pearly whites. These candies may be appropriate to entertain the trick-or-treaters for a long while on the eve of Día de los difuntos, Day of the Dead, also known … Read more

Day of the Dead Dessert: Chilacayote

Day of the Dead Desserts: Chilacayote

For three years I have focused on world-famous and omnipresent dish of Fiambre as the main food served for Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day in Guatemala. I believe that has been too much emphasis on a salad, which mostly has meats, all kinds: sausages, hams, chicken, sea food, meats pork and beef; don’t you think?

Fiambre SlideShow - 16 Guatemalan Cuisine: Fiambre

Once again, I have to thank Erin who mentioned last week it was about time to begin preparing “fiambre” and the dulce de ayote. It is amusing that one needs other people to point the obvious. I say this because every year my girlfriend and I set up a Day of the Dead Altar which amalgamates the Mexican and the Guatemalan tradition with foods from both cultures and of course with plenty of desserts.

Chilacayote is basically a Guatemalan-type of squash sweet or candy. I don’t have the recipe, but I am sure Erin or other kind Guatemalan will come forward with the recipe for chilacayote, camotes and dulce de ayote… anyone, anyone?

Here’s one more dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. This time Sobrevivencia performs a rock version of “Guate caricia.” Enjoy!

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Guatemalan Cuisine: Fiambre

How can we 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 crappy kites photos or commonplace shots of Volcán de Fuego … Read more

Reuniting the Living with the Dead

Ignacio Ochoa has published a recent article about the history of kite making in Santiago Sacatepéquez under the name of Messenges in the Wind. Below the first paragraph of this wonderful article: On November 1 and 2, a powerful force stirs in all the towns of Guatemala. Traditional markets are filled with flowers of sempa … Read more