November 1 – Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos

November 1 is celebrated in Guatemala with a combination of Catholic rituals and Mayan practices as a day to honor deceased loved ones. Beginning early in the morning before daybreak, the family will visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried to spend time cleaning and repainting the graves. Often favorite photos and other memory items are brought to the grave where the family is gathered. The original intent was to communicate with the souls of the departed in order that they hear the prayers and comments of those who gathered. Kite flying is also included. It was believed that the flying kites communicated with the spirit world – with the flight by the wind the bad spirits were frighten away from the people and with the colorful flying paper good spirits were attracted.


Several customs are an integral part of Guatemala’s celebration of the Day of the Dead.

1. Respect for the dead – graves are cleaned and painted, incense is burned, prayers are offered and the loved ones are honored with flowers and candles. Orange marigolds along yellow and white chrysanthemums are the most often used flowers for the cemetery. Often picnics are carried to the cemetery as the family spends the day there.
2. Kite festivals – the most spectacular is held in Santiago Sacatepéquez. The kites here are judged and winners are awarded in four categories – women’s, children’s, exhibition and flight. But whether or not a town has a contest, kites are flown. The most traditional are handmade of natural products – yucca flour paste, bamboo for the larger kites or castilla (wheat type plant) for the smaller kites, light weight handmade paper with tails of woven cloth. Others use tissue paper for the lightweight high flying kites.
3. Horse race – the most notorious is held in Todos Santos, a highland village near Lake Atítlan. Not an ordinary horse race, riders try to stay on the horses while having drink after drink. The last man on the horse wins.
4. Fiambre – this traditional food is eaten only once a year as the traditional dish of the Day of the Dead. It is served cold and contains cheese, meat, eggs and vegetables cured in vinegar.

Although many of the traditional beliefs of the communication with the dead spirits did not seem to precipitate the flying of the kites today, the celebrations are still steeped with traditional pagan beliefs of prayers to the dead for salvation and spirit release. Because of these foundations, we found that believers did not take part in the celebrations. Instead they have found that true spirit release comes in the forgiveness of personal sin through the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. No longer seeking to have prayers answered through the spirits of those who have died, they can enter boldly to the throne of God. They can live victoriously through the Spirit who dwells within. No longer bound by traditions, no longer bound by the one who enslaves the heart and mind but FREE in the love of the Father!