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If you ever find yourself walking through the streets of Guatemala, you will most likely find men playing the marimba either for tourists, at a festival or fiesta, or for their own pleasure. It is beloved by Guatemalans, especially the ones who are of Maya heritage. Named Guatemala’s national instrument in 1978¹, the marimba has not only brought joy to its people but also played a large role in helping to shape indigenous identity.

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Traditional Mayan calendars still in use

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Traditional Mayan calendars still in use

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For many indigenous Mayans, the Gregorian calendar is used only to govern their interactions with other communities. The use of the traditional Mayan calendar is still practiced in many communities, where it is used to help people understand the world and its cycles.

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The town of Chichicastenango puts on quite a show for its patron saint, Santo Tomas, from December 13-21 every year. There are parades, fireworks and the infamous palo volador, in which two dancers jump from a pole that can be as much as 100 feet high before spinning slowly to the ground hanging from a rope.

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Eating fiambre is a treat not to be missed

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Eating fiambre is a treat not to be missed

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Every year Guatemalan families prepare and eat the traditional fiambre salad to eat on the Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day. The huge salad can be made with as many as 50 ingredients, but the most important are sausages, cold cuts, pickled baby corn and beets.

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Marimba music dominates in traditional communities

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Marimba music dominates in traditional communities

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A large wooden xylophone-style instrument known as a marimba is the most emblematic in traditional Guatemalan music. You will hear it at parties and festivals among older generations, but younger people are increasingly listening to reggaetón and other musical styles.

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Another All Saints’ Day tradition are the huge kites that are constructed in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepequez. Head to these two villages near Antigua to see massive kites decorated in bright colors, often with political messages. Both sites are within 30 minutes of Antigua Guatemala.

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Patterned clothing which reveals where you are from

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Patterned clothing which reveals where you are from

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Visitors to Guatemala cannot fail to notice the brightly-patterned traditional dress of the Mayan indigenous community. What is not immediately obvious is that these clothes can tell you where someone is from if you know how to read them; each town and village uses different designs to the next.

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Dancing on your family grave on All Saints’ Day

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Dancing on your family grave on All Saints’ Day

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While in some parts of the world graves are not to be trodden on or even touched, things are different in Guatemala. Here it is tradition in certain parts of the country to have a party in the cemetery on November 1, drinking and dancing in honor of deceased relatives.

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Leaving cigarettes and alcohol for a syncretic saint

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Leaving cigarettes and alcohol for a syncretic saint

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The mixture of Mayan and Roman Catholic traditions has left Guatemala a fascinating cultural legacy. One of the strangest components is Maximon, also known as San Simon, a saint that grants favors in return for cigarettes, alcohol and other gifts left by followers at his altar.

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Easter is a big deal in the colonial city of Antigua, where religious processions wind their way through town during Holy Week. The parades draw thousands of visitors from around the world, so you’ll need to book accommodation well in advance if you want to be there.

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In the town of Todos Santos, All Saints’ Day celebrations take a unique form. Locals get trashed on alcohol before attempting to race horses through town watched by friends, family and a growing number of intrigued tourists.

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The highland town of Chivarreto is the venue for bare-knuckle fights each year on Good Friday. Explanations for the tradition vary, but it makes for a great day out. Head to the northern city of Quetzaltenango and look for onward transport.

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The Maya ball game is the oldest of known sports in Guatemala. Also played in Mexico, over 500 courts have been found in Guatemala. The oldest known court dates back to 500BC and in the ruined city of Tikal, 7 have been discovered.

Visitors to the country have a variety of sports on offer to try. Some of the most popular sports Guatemala holidaymakers usually choose to enjoy are hiking, fishing (freshwater and ocean), whitewater rafting, scuba diving and surfing

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Guatemalans are big sports fans with football being the most popular of all.

The largest football stadium in the country is in Guatemala city and at one time, the Mateo Flores was also the largest stadium in Central America.

After football are many other spectator sports. Guatemala enjoys many of North America's renowned sports such as baseball, basketball, boxing and American football.

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The traditional Guatemalan clothing is well known to be perhaps the most colorful of all the typical costumes in Latin America, in particular, the Highlands of Guatemala are the most popular ones. These costumes vary a lot and it depends on the region, each design has been influenced by history.

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This department is one of the largest cloth producers in the country. Most of its population is dedicated to it using pedal looms built by themselves. The huipil is characterized by a certain Spanish influence in their designs, using designs with silk flowers and high-gloss yarns.

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This department is famous for Lake Atitlan, it is one of the most visited lakes in Central America.
The women use a tzute on the head (also called ixcaco), this is a piece of cloth cooked by hand by themselves, this is a very old custom and is part of the traditional costume of this area. The Huipil includes many creative designs, all handwoven using the traditional back-strap loom.

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This is the second most important city of Guatemala. The huipiles of this department have in their designs many birds, flowers and stars. The colors of these suits tend to be warm colors such as red, yellow and violet. These suits are made on foot or pedal looms.
The skirts are made of natural wool, in black and white colors.

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The municipality of San Antonio Aguas Calientes, located in Sacatepequez, is famous for the quality of its threads and fabrics. The design of the huipiles of this area has changed with the passage of time, originally had geometric shapes and multiple lines of colors, but in recent times, have combined flowers and birds with geometric patterns in their designs. Just like in many other areas of the country, the skirt is wrapped around the waist and held by a red colored sash.

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The huipil is characterized by being made with silk embroidery and a square neck. This suit is well known for its geometric designs and multiple colored stripes. Due to the high detail in the designs of the costumes in this area of Guatemala, the elaboration of the huipiles and skirts usually takes a lot of time and dedication. The back-strap loom is used to create this beautiful costume

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One of the main features of this suit are the wide red stripes around the shoulders for the huipil design, it includes detailed geometric animals designs in it. The huipil for Chimaltenango women also stands out for its V-neck shape (sometimes squarish) made with black velvet on the edges. The skirt is traditionally very long and colorful, this skirt is wrapped around the waist and held by a red colored sash. Unfortunately, women using the traditional suit for this area is declining, for new generations are changing designs to wear colored blouses with multiple lace and skirts at the knees.

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Las Verapaces area (as known in Guatemala)

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Las Verapaces area (as known in Guatemala)

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Alta and Baja Verapaz are known as Las Verapaces. The Huipil for this area (particularly seen better in Cobán) features the ‘tobacco’ plant designs on it, this is to show purity, beauty and the modesty of women in this area of the country by using designs that represent nature.
Huipiles in this area are made with made from a more delicate fabrics and are shorter in comparison other ones, ‘el corte’ (skirt) is long and mostly made in dark blue color, which creates an interesting contrast in colors.

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Feria de Santo Tomás / Feast of St. Thomas

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Feria de Santo Tomás / Feast of St. Thomas

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When: December 13 th-21 st
Where: Chichicastenango

When the town of Chichicastenango celebrates its patron saint, it doesn’t mess around. A week of parades, traditional dances, and fireworks culminates with the palo volador (flying pole dance), for which two men ascend a wooden pole as high as 100 feet, tie ropes around their waists, and then leap off, spinning gradually to the ground. The dance is a ritual Mayan request for rain and fertility of the land

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When: November 1 st and 2 nd
Where: Santiago and Sumpango Sacatepéquez

In Santiago and Sumpango Sacatepéquez, teams of creatives work for months to construct barriletes gigantes, or giant kites, that are erected in the local cemeteries on Day of the Dead. Made of paper and bamboo, the kites are traditionally believed to communicate with deceased loved ones and ward off evil spirits from their graves. Nowadays, competitions are held for best design, largest diameter, and more. Children hop from grave to grave as vendors push ice cream carts with tinkling bells and the barriletes wave and flap in the breeze

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Día de la Independencia / Independence Day

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Día de la Independencia / Independence Day

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When: September 15 th
Where: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica

On September 14th, 1821, María Dolores Bedoya ran through the streets of Guatemala with a lit torch, igniting the people’s hope for liberation after 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. The next day, five countries—from Guatemala south through Costa Rica—won independence. To commemorate this incredible moment in Latin American history, each year runners (called antorcheros) relay a lit torch from Guatemala City to Cartago, the old colonial capital of Costa Rica. Groups of shorter-distance runners carry torches and flags into their own hometowns amid shouting, whistles, and marching band music.

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 Festival Folklórico de Cobán / Cobán Folkloric Festival

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 Festival Folklórico de Cobán / Cobán Folkloric Festival

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When: last week of July
Where: Cobán

The Cobán Folkloric Festival features parades, rodeos, and expositions of traditional art, but its crown jewel is the Rabin Ajau—or “daughter of the king”—competition. Each year Mayan girls from across Guatemala arrive in Cobán wrapped in the traditional huipil and morga (blouse and skirt) of their hometown, ready to compete for the title of Mayan princess. Girls are chosen not only for their beauty, but also, as one attendee put it, for their “spiritual beauty…grace, charm, carriage, sincerity, intelligence and knowledge of history.

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When: March or April
Where: Antigua

Each Holy Week, the cobblestone streets of Antigua are covered in rich carpets of dust: colored sawdust, that is. These alfombras are meticulously crafted and feature designs that mingle Mayan and Christian symbolism. Clouds of incense rise to heaven as monks and nuns process through the streets, hefting half-ton sculptures of Mary and Jesus on their shoulders. Bands follow and mock Roman soldiers stride after them, reading the charges against Jesus.

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Modern Guatemala includes a wide variety of performers, including a symphony orchestra, ballets, chamber ensembles, hip hop crews, and rock and mariachi bands.

The most well known modern singer/songwriter from Guatemala is Ricardo Arjona.

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Native traditional music stems from the culture of the Maya people, and has been modified by the influx of Spanish and West African immigrants beginning in the 16th century. The marimba is the most important instrument, and is used to play a variety of kinds of music, including both local folk and internationally well-known and sophisticated popular music. The Afro-Caribbean Garifuna music includes styles like those of the Garifuna population elsewhere in Central America, such as punta.

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Danza de Moros y Cristianos (Dance of the Moors and Christians)

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Danza de Moros y Cristianos (Dance of the Moors and Christians)

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Covering a time period of nearly 800 years, the dance recalls the Spanish struggle against the Arabs, and highlights the power of the Christian God who allowed them to prevail against the Moors. The dance was introduced to Guatemala by missionaries in an attempt to convert the Maya to Christianity. The dance traditionally takes place on June 30, with ten dancers accompanied by a drum and flute.

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Danza de los Pascarines (Dance of the Pascarines)

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Danza de los Pascarines (Dance of the Pascarines)

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The dance usually takes place in April, with 25 dancers taking part. The Dance of the Pascarines is of Hispanic colonial origin, and tells the adulterous story of two shepherds who fight over a woman.

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Danze de los Vaqueros (Dance of the Cowboy)

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Danze de los Vaqueros (Dance of the Cowboy)

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The Dance of the Cowboys is of Hispanic Colonial origin, and this complicated dance is one of the most deeply-rooted in Guatemalan popular culture. The dance exclusively references Spanish traditions like bullfighting and cattle breeding, which were introduced to Guatemala in the second half of the 16th century. Due to its mocking nature, the dance is considered satirical. There are 32 participants in this dance, with characters including a hacienda owner, young women, bosses, cowboys, shepherds and bulls.

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Danza de los Venados (Dance of the Deer)

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Danza de los Venados (Dance of the Deer)

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This dance is of pre-Hispanic origin and references the hunting of deer for food and sustenance. Directed by a Maya priest, the dance features 26 dancers, with a single marimba providing the music, and represents the struggle between humans and animals for meat.

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Danza de la Conquista (Dance of the Conquest)

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Danza de la Conquista (Dance of the Conquest)

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As its name suggests, the Dance of the Conquest has Hispanic Colonial origins. It references the death of Mayan king Tecun Uman, who died valiantly in battle while trying to protect his people. The other main character in the dance is Pedro Alvarado, the conqueror of Guatemala, and the finale of the dance references the Maya being converted to Christianity. At this point, the Maya and the Spanish dance together, forgetting their differences. The instruments accompanying the dance are the whistle, the chimirría flute and the drums.

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Danza de los monos (Dance of the Monkeys)

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Danza de los monos (Dance of the Monkeys)

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The dance features a 35-foot pole erected in front of a church; the dancer playing the monkey must balance on a piece of rope tied between the pole and church. This dance is performed by 23 people, with music from a simple marimba and a special flute called an Ah Xul.

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DANZA DE LOS MICOS-DANZA POPULAR DE GUATEMALA "Magia y Color"

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The sonajas or maracas take on a different name in Guatemala, they are called chinchines; an onomatopoeia (onomatopeya in Spanish). Generally, Guatemalan chinchines are found painted black with incisions made to expose the natural color with patterns similar to what you may find in textiles, but more recently chinchines can be found of all colors.

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The Marimba has to be Guatemala’s most popular musical instrument. It is found in every single town’s fair, party and cultural event (almost). La Marimba, as it’s known in Spanish, is a type of xylophone with various origins. Guatemala claims to be THE origin of the marimba and, I believe, it is Guatemala’s National Music Instrument. For sure, Guatemala was indeed one of the origins of this particular percussion instrument and its sound.

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A third of Guatemala now claims adherence to Protestantism and, more specif ically, Evangelical Christianity. The growth of this sect will become obvious as you travel around the country and hear the sounds of loud evening worship services, known as cultos, emanating from numerous churches, particularly in the highlands.

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Catholicism can still draw a big crowd, though, most noticeably during Holy Week, with its elaborate processions reenacting Christ’s crucifixion, and the annual pilgrimage to Esquipulas on January 16 to pay homage to the Black Christ in the town’s basilica.

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Catholicism has played an important role in Guatemala ever since colonial times, though the state increasingly took measures to limit its power starting in the late 19th century, when liberal reformers confiscated church property and secularized education. More recently, the Church wrestled with its official mandate of saving souls and its moral obligation to alleviate the misery and injustice experienced by many of its subjects, particularly the Mayans.

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Mayan spirituality has its origins in pre-Columbian religious practices and a cosmology that venerated natural phenomena, including rivers, mountains, and caves. The soaring temples built by the Mayan and other Mesoamerican civilizations were built to mimic mountains and were usually built in alignment with the cardinal directions.

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The big brother of the Chuchitos, a tamal is mostly made around christmas but are available year round. The tamal is made of viscous corn dough with various types of meat and tomato sauce, what makes it different it’s the plantain leaf wrapping which gives it a distinct taste and texture.

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A very common street food is Chuchitos, which is corn dough lumped in to ball filled with tomato sauce and chicken ,and boiled to perfection. Chuchitos come wrapped in corn stock leaves , keeping them ready for consumption.

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A delicatessen of the Caribbean, Tapado is a savory stew mixing coconut milk and coconut oil with crabs, plantain, rice, fish, shrimp and sometimes octopus.

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This is quite literally a rooster! A rooster prepared in a sweet and sour stew that softens the meat until perfection. Not available everywhere, but one of our favorites.

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If you ever had coffee at a Guatamalan’s house you were probably offered one of these. The champurradas are like big cookies with a biscotti type of flavor. A must have for coffee time!

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This is not your Mexican Enchilada, but rather a tostada on steroids! This tasty snack (or full meal?) is topped of with beats, hard boiled sliced eggs,lettuce, onions, cheese, lots of other veggies and towers with magnificent taste.

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Although also found in other Latina American Countries, arroz en leche is a delicious beverage that resembles a rice pudding flavor. Garnished with cinnamon.

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This list could not be complete without the mighty tostada! This fried tortilla is usually topped with guacamole, salsa or black bean paste and topped with cheese , cilantro and onions. A simple but delicious .

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This food is served as a dessert. Rellenitos are balls of fried plantain pudding filled with black beans ,chocolate and cinnamon. A perfect on the go food or something to finish your meals.

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This traditional chicken stew comes from the central region of Guatemala and comes served with veggies and rice . Brownish-red in color, this stew is made out of various types of chilies(Ex.Paprika) and spices and served with a piece of chicken, baked potatoes, veggies and rice. Always served with traditional corn flour tortillas.

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Spanish, the official language of the country, is also the most spoken language in the nation. Nearly 93% of the population of Guatemala speak Spanish. The language was introduced in the country by the Spanish colonists and was taught to the indigenous inhabitants of the country by missionaries and the earliest Guatemalan schools. Today, Spanish acts as the primary medium of instructions in schools nationwide. Spanish is also used widely in both formal and informal occasions in the country.

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The language speakers primarily inhabit the Huehuetenango Department of the country. The San Mateo Ixtatán and the San Sebastián Coatán are the two main dialects of Chuj.

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The Maya civilization was very advanced in math and astronomy. The Maya probably developed the concept of zero and left written records using hieroglyphics and whole words.

Maya women continue to weave brightly colored cloth and fashion the same traje, or suit, that their ancestors wore. More than half of the population is indigenous. The largest of the 20 Maya groups, the Quiché, live near the city of Quetzaltenango, called Xela (SHEH-la) by the locals.

Many believe that the name Guatemala comes from the Maya word Guhatezmalh, that described the volcano near the old capital in Antigua, the "Mountain That Vomits Water." Today the volcano is simply called the Volcan de Agua, "Volcano of Water."

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Guatemala is a country of volcanoes, mountains, and beaches on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. From the Cuchamatán Mountains in the western highlands, to the coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, this small country is marked by contrasts. Three of Guatemala's 30 volcanoes are still active

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The Mayan language of Poqomam is spoken in several small pockets in the country with the largest number of speakers being concentrated in the Guatemala’s Jalapa Department.

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The Mayan language of Jakaltek is spoken by the Jakaltek people of Guatemala who mainly reside in the Huehuetenango department of the country.

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The Tz'utujil people of Guatemala speak the Tz’utujil language. The speakers of this language primarily inhabit the Western Highlands region of the country south of Lake Atitlán. The language is closely related to the K'iche' and the Kaqchikel languages.

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The Akatek people of Guatemala who primarily reside in the Huehuetenango Department of the country speak the Akatek language. The language is closely related to the Jakaltek and Q'anjob'al languages

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The Mayan language of Mam is spoken by the Mam people in the four Guatemalan departments of Huehuetenango, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango.

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Achi, a language closely related to the K'iche', is spoken by Guatemala’s Achi people. The Achi speakers are mainly inhabitants of the Baja Verapaz department in the country. The two dialects of the language are Rabinal Achi and Cubulco Achi which are spoken in the Rabinal and Cubulco areas, respectively.

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Also known as the Quiché, the language is spoken by the K'iche' people inhabiting the central highlands of Guatemala. More than a million speakers of this language constitute 11.31% of the population of Guatemala. After Spanish, K’iche’ is the second most popular language in the country. Most speakers of K’iche’ also have working or advanced knowledge of Spanish.

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Guatemala’s Poqomchi’ Maya speaks the Poqomchi’ language. There are two dialects of the language that are spoken mainly in the Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz departments of Guatemala.

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The language is spoken by the Kaqchikel people living in the central highlands region of Guatemala. The language is taught in public schools and propagation of the language is promoted by the intercultural bilingual education programs organized in the country.

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The Q’eqchi' language is spoken by about 7.58% of the Guatemalan population. It is also a Maya language that is spoken in the Guatemalan departments of El Quiché, El Petén, Izabal, and Alta Verapaz.