Guatemala events and festivals: Guatemala is vibrant and colorful by nature, but during these Guatemala events and festivals, the country blooms with life.
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New Year's Day
(January 1)
New Year's Day is a boisterous celebration in Guatemala, especially in Guatemala City and Antigua Guatemala. Fireworks, drinking and other merriment is requisite.
New Year's Day is a boisterous celebration in Guatemala, especially in Guatemala City and Antigua Guatemala. Fireworks, drinking and other merriment is requisite.
Semana Santa/Easter Week
James Foley
(Easter week)
Antigua Guatemala's Semana Santa, or Holy Easter Week, is one of the most visually stunning Guatemala events. Most notable are the costumed religious processions, and the brilliantly colorful carpets, or "alfombras", made of dyed sawdust and flower petals.
Antigua Guatemala's Semana Santa, or Holy Easter Week, is one of the most visually stunning Guatemala events. Most notable are the costumed religious processions, and the brilliantly colorful carpets, or "alfombras", made of dyed sawdust and flower petals.
Day of the Dead/Dia de Los Muertos
Mark Lee
(November 1-3)
Though Day of the Dead is celebrated all over Guatemala, the liveliest festivities take place in the highlands town of Todos Santos Cuchumatan, including music, dancing... and drunken horse racing.
Though Day of the Dead is celebrated all over Guatemala, the liveliest festivities take place in the highlands town of Todos Santos Cuchumatan, including music, dancing... and drunken horse racing.
La Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil)
(December 7)On the eve of the Festival of the Immaculate Conception, Guatemalans dump trash and other rubbish gathered throughout the year and light it on fire, in a sort of cleansing ritual. Some revelers eve don devil costumes and give chase to children!
Festival of Saint Thomas
(December)The Festival of Saint Thomas in Chichicastenango is arguably the most colorful event not only in Guatemala, but in all of Central America. Thousands of Guatemala's highlands Mayan Indians don traditional costumes and celebrate with music, firecrackers, and traditional Mayan maypole dancing.
Guatemala Christmas Week
(The week of December 25)Guatemala Christmas is a unique blend of indigenous cultures and Catholic traditions, with many towns holding religious processions on the nine days leading to Christmas Day.
