Dia de los Muertos: Giant Kite Festival

November 1 is a sacred day in Central American culture. The Day of the Dead. Its similar to Memorial Day in the United States. Families gather in cemetaries with flowers and candles and, sometimes, tequila and spend the day with their family members that have left this life.

Pine needles are scattered on the ground to adorn the gravesite

Mayan woman in traditional dress sitting by the grave of a loved one

In a little village called Sumpango, Santiago Sacatepequez, about an hour away from Guatemala City a great tradition has been held for many years. Festival de los Barriletes Gigantes- the Festival of the Giant Kites. People from the community spend months building kites with bamboo and tissue paper. They range in size from around 6 ft in diameter to almost 100 ft. They are decorated with a religious or political theme. 

People come from all over the country to see what has become known as one of Guatemala's most impressive events

This kite features a woman sewing at her loom. This is one of the most notable traditions of Mayan women. Each community has its own unique pattern of sewing that is passed on through generations.

An indigenous woman standing by lake Atitlan with her pack on her head.

Translation: "We are born seeing the protection and coexistence of nature is in our hands"

"We have learned to fly like the birds and swim like the fish but we have not learned the simple art of living together like brothers. Damn the violence, for it bleeds Guatemala to death." 

"It is not simply identity, it is our indigenous pride." This refers to the Mayan culture.

The festival brings people from all over the country. Vendors line the streets selling everything from Mayan clothing and jewelry to bumper stickers and Q10($1.25) kites. Grilled corn, ceviche, and delicious fruit can be found on every corner as well as chorizo and other grilled meats.

Hungry? 

Lucas and I bought a kite. Attempting to fly a kite in the middle of a large crowd isn't the best idea...

The kites are put on display until an hour before dusk, at which time they begin the exciting part of the festival: flying them. 
Getting a 6 ft kite airborne is no small task. Hundreds of feet of 9 mm rope is laid across a huge field, on one end the giant kite, on the other 3-4 men. On the count of 3 they all begin running as fast as possible across the field pulling the rope and saying their prayers.

Mayan women and children dressed in traditional clothing, watching the kites fly

A barrilete gigante flying with other small kites. Hundreds of kites can be seen in the air  all over the cemetary.      

Some kites become airborne and they fly them high in the air, but most only make it a few moments and then come crashing down to their demise. Tissue paper and bamboo always lose the fight with solid ground and high speeds. But this is also an important, symbolic part of the festival. It represents the fleeting beauty of life, that all things eventually come to an end.