And over time, with the country’s evangelization, they have blended with Catholic traditions. Today, most are celebrated during the patron saint festivals of towns and villages.
The grand processions of Antigua Guatemala held every Sunday during Lent and Holy Week are world-renowned for their breathtaking alfombras (carpets of flowers and colored sawdust) and their massive floats carried by more than 80 people.
On All Saints’ Day, don’t miss the giant handmade kites of Santiago and Sumpango, the colorful flower-covered cemeteries, and the traditional horse races of Todos Santos.
Other remarkable celebrations: the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 in Sololá, Saint Thomas Day on December 21 in Chichicastenango — famous for the mesmerizing Palo Volador dance — and Saint Andrew’s Day on November 30 in San Andrés Xecul, known for its vivid dances and syncretic rituals.
