As I have shared with you before, flores de Pascua or pascuas, are the most popular Christmas floral displays. Poinsettias are also given as Christmas presents very often in Guatemala. Although the most popular color for poinsettias is rojo, in Antigua Guatemala one can find Pascuas in these colors: yellow, white, salmon pink, mixed colors and … Read more
Chichitas amarillas, yellow nipples or nipple fruit, or Chichitas de Esquipulas are two popular name for this organic Guatemalan decoration found around Christmas time. Chichitas amarillas are actually a medicinal plants. The scientific name for this fruit is Solanum mammosum L. Other common name in Guatemala is: chichigua. Solanum mammosum is commonly known as nipplefruit, fox … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Gallitos for air plants. Another popular organic Guatemalan Christmas Decoration are Gallitos. As I have mentioned in the past, air plants, are found everywhere in Guatemala, especially so around Antigua Guatemala because the large tree population surrounding our enchanting and colorful colonial town. Take a photographic … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Pashte for Spanish moss. One of the most important organic decorations for the Guatemalan Nativity scenes is the pashte; also known as paxtle, paste, pastle, or simply heno, which is the neutral Spanish word. Pashte is translated into English as Spanish moss; go figures. Take a … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Pascuas for poinsettias. Scientific name: Euphorbia pulcherrima or Poinsetia. As I have mentioned before, Flor de Pascua, or simply Pascuas are how poinsettias are known in Guatemala. In case you didn’t know, poinsettias are native to Guatemala and Mesoamerica and in general can be found in … Read more
Here’s a sampling of the most popular Christmas decorations used in Guatemala. How many Christmas decorations do you recognise or which one are used where you live? By the way, if you want to take a photographic tour through the different Guatemalan Christmas decorations, follow the white rabbit. Enjoy the tour and let us know … Read more
In Guatemala poinsettias are known as Flor de Pascua, Flor de Noche Buena or simply Pascuas. 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 for … Read more
During early December, in Guatemala people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and then spread to the rest of American continent. One important aspect of nacimientos is that baby Jesus is missing from the scene since his actual birthday is on … Read more
Ho ho! not the Christmas shopping you were hoping for… merely some Guatemalan Christmas decorations (follow if you dare; I will not be held responsible if you end up doing Christmas shopping all over again ). 😉 [gmap]
You saw the lambs made from dried corn husks just a few days ago. Then you saw the Spanish moss or pashte as it’s known in Guatemala. Finally, you saw the pashte being used as a carpet for the Nativity scenes known as Nacimientos in Guatemala. Last but not least, I bring to you the … Read more
Aserrín (sawdust) is used often in Guatemala for decorations, especially the world famous Holy Week carpets. Sawdust is dyed with bright colors to provide the color and contrast of the different designs. This photo and the next are the last in the Guatemalan Christmas Decorations series.
Right at midnight on December 24th/25th, baby Jesus is put in the Nacimiento scene set up on December 8th (do you remember?). Right at midnight the joy and happiness of Guatemalans celebrating Navidad (Christmas) literally explodes into firecrackers, bell rings, songs, hugs, and sharing of lots of great Guatemalan Christmas cuisine, like tamales especially made … Read more
On December 23rd the quest for lodging or the act of pedir posada ends and marks the beginning of preparations for Christmas or the birth of baby Jesus. Here you can see a typical anda (float) with the figures of Mary and Joseph as they wondered around town looking for lodging (posada) and the final … Read more
One of the most important decorations for the nacimientos is the pashte; also known as paxtle, paste, pastle, or simply heno, which is the neutral Spanish word. Pashte is translated into English as Spanish moss; go figures. You must revisit the nacimiento photo from December 8th to see how pashte is used for the Nativity … Read more
Musgo is the Spanish word for moss. Musgo is used for the nacimiento scenes (nativities scenes) in Guatemala. You buy musgo by la medida (the bunch) for Q5; depending in the size of your nacimiento, you may need two or three bunches. Come back tomorrow to learn about the Guatemalan moss known pashte.