 HOLIDAYS FESTIVITIES |
Each town throughout the country celebrates fiestas with different social, cultural, and sporting events.
Many are similar, but two not to miss are: Fiesta of Todos Santos Cuchumatanes: October 21 thru November 1 and Fiesta of Chichicastenango: December 13 thru 21.
 All Saint's Day in Todos Santos |
November 1st is one of the most important days in Guatemala. On this day they celebrate the Day of the Dead. Cemeteries are visited and decorated to remember loved ones. It's a union of ancient Pagan beliefs and Catholic traditions brought by the Spanish in the 16th and 17th centuries.
| Folkloric Festival of "Rabin Ajau" in Cobán |
Probably the most impressive festival of Indian traditions in Guatemala is the traditional dance of the Paabanc. This is celebrated throughout the region by the local qeq'chís, who wear their traditional costumes.
| Easter week in Guatemala |
Easter week is one of the most colorful times to visit Guatemala. Each of the Indigenous Indian groups perform religious and folkloric traditions. One of the best places to see this is in Antigua. Locals participate in processions through the streets carrying statues of Christ dragging, carrying or nailed to the cross. They are colorful processions that march on colorful intricately laid saw-dust rugs on the village streets. The processions are held throughout the week of Easter and go throughout the whole town. Other towns with traditional parades include Huehuetenango and Totonicapán. The churches in Guatemala City also hold processions through the streets of the capital.
| Horse races of Todos Santos, Huehuetenango |
Horses are raced through town by locals wearing traditional clothing of the region. Different meals are consumed throughout the day and a traditional prayer is given before any food is eaten.
| Flying of Giant Kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez |
The village located 15 miles from Antigua starts All Saint's Day with the gathering of the villagers and a procession through the streets to the cemeteries. Once there, they fly giant kites "to communicate with loved ones who passed away". The giant kites have messages tied to the tails for the deceased and special petitions to God. The celebration ends with a traditional meal called Fiambre.
| Celebration of Santo Tomas the Patron of Chichicastenango |
Every December, celebrations begin with local
Indian groups honoring God and tradition. Take time
to admire the Palo Volador where locals, dangling
from a rope, swing around a pole in the Central
Plaza. |
| Marketplaces |
| Sunday |
Chichicastenango, El Quiché
Momostenango, Totonicapán
Nahualá, Sololá
Nebaj, El Quiché
Patzún, Chimaltenango
San Cristóbal, Totonicapán
La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez
Santa María Chiquimula, Totonicapán
Comalapa, Chimaltenango
San Mateo Ixtatán, Huehuetenango
Todos Santos, Huehuetenango
Tecpán, Chimaltenango
San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá
Tactic, Alta Verapaz
Tamah, Alta Verapaz
Tucur, Alta Verapaz
San Cristóbal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz
San Martín Sacatepéquez, Quetzaltenango
| Monday |
La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez
Chimaltenango, Chimaltenenago
Zunil, Quetzaltenango
| Tuesday |
Comalapa, Chimaltenango
Patzún, Chimaltenango
San Martín Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango
Sololá, SololáOlintepeque, Quetzaltenango
| Wednesday |
Chimaltenango, ChimaltenangoPatzicía, Chimaltenango
| Thursday |
La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez
Chichicastenango, El Quiché
Nebaj, El Quiché
Sacapulas, El Quiché
San Mateo Ixtatán, Huehuetenango
Todos Santos, Huehuetenango
San Sabastián, Huehuetenango
San Juan Atitlán, Sololá
San Martín Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango
Tecpán, Chimaltenango
Nahualá, Sololá
San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá
Tactic, Alta Verapaz
Tamah, Alta Verapaz
Tucur, Alta Verapaz
San Cristóbal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz
San Martín Sacatepéquez, Quetzaltenango
| Friday |
Comalapa, Chimaltenango
Chimaltenango, Chimaltenango
Patzún, Chimaltenango
San Francisco El Alto, Totonicapán
Sololá, Sololá
Santiago Sacatepéquez, Sacatepéquez
| Saturday |
La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez
Patzicía, Chimaltenango
Totonicapán, Totonicapán
All these informations are provided by courtesy of Destination Guatemala and Sol y Luna |
