Guatemala Festival Tours (part 1)
The descendants of this fascinating culture have inherited customs and traditions, all this combined with the effect of the European influence is present today as an explosion of color, rhythm and mysticism through folk festivals, which are traditional dances or religious manifestations that have evolved naturally and spontaneously and express emotions, beliefs, religion, ceremonies, rituals and festivals, births, the wars of occupations and trades, domestic life and superstitions.
All Saints Day – Feasts of the Church
At the beginning of Christianity, many new practitioners were persecuted and tortured by the Roman Empire. Thus, the early church commemorated the death of these martyrs on their date of death.
Over time, there were many martyrs that it was impossible to keep a date for each one, so it was decided to group the celebrations in one day, and every region was designated a specific date to remember these saints.
It was not until the year 610 D. C. that Pope Boniface IV dedicated a pantheon in Rome, and assigned an anniversary date in honor of the Virgin and all martyrs, being this the 13th of May.
Through nearly three centuries it was instituted this celebration to remember the martyrs and saints of the Church, selecting Nov. 1st as the date for its commemoration under Pope Gregory III and a day later he settled on a day to tribute to all the deceased.
This date coincided with a festival of Celtic origin practiced in Europe even before the imposition of Christianity, marking the end of the harvest season and the start of the Dark season or Hollow eve, that is, autumn in the northern hemisphere. Later on, this celebration took the name of Halloween.
Commemoration to the ancestors
In the prehispanic world, they had specific days to remember their ancestors. In the short account of the Mayan calendar, called Tzolkin, they celebrated an event called Watzakib Batz. During this festival, it was easier to communicate with the world of the dead.
In various Archaeological sites, as in EI Baul, Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala there are several representations of the death, indicating the reverence that the Mayan civilization had towards them.
Unique fusion
After the conquest, Catholic priests were responsible for the reorganization of the Native persons. The monks placed the name of a saint to each town, to entrust them under his protection and indoctrinate the catholic tradition to all the natives.
The Indigenas, meanwhile, acquired the Christian events, but adapted them to their own environment, resulting in a series of syncretics rituals that were sustained over time and took a unique and unparalleled enhancement.
In the case of the commemoration of saints and the dead, the celebration took a particular enhancement due to the pre-Hispanic custom of devoting some days to share with their ancestors.
The adaptation of the Christian festival originated the belief that during this time the dead can come back to visit their loved ones to the world of the living, and thus emerged most unique rituals of Guatemala.
These include the construction of altars for loved ones, food called cabecera, fiambre, the kites, horse racing, among many other events that make this time an entire social and cultural phenomenon.
These traditions and festivities have called the attention of travelers of the whole world and yearly travel to Guatemala matching up their vacations in Guatemala to uncover a wonderful experience full of color, culture and adventure of the enigmatic Mayan world. Will continue…
Please feel free to contact us for more information and details about Festival Tours, hotels and vacation packages in Guatemala.
Martsam Travel your Guatemala Tours & Travel Company
Leave a Reply