All Saints Day
Part # 4, final.
Art and color in Sumpango
They take several months to prepare the kites, although this tradition is more recent than that of Santiago, the variety of designs and materials are larger and require more organization.
Previous activities begin with the choice of the ambassador of the kite, a week before the first of November. Then on the eve of the celebration they do a tour with the Mayan spiritual guides in the cemetery and where the kites will be displayed. During the night of 31 they take out the kites. This activity is of recent origin, to prepare the shops and spaces for participants. That night there is music and games to entertain all visitors.
The groups are arranged from the previous night. At 10 in the morning on the 1st of November begins the show of the huge kites. There are four categories:
A. The display of kites, of more than 10 meters high.
B. The ones that fly. They must be less than 6 feet tall.
C. It covers free disefios. They count the kites and commets of different shapes.
D. The child, this category is very important to promote the tradition in the youngest.
Viewers visit first cemetery to remember their ancestors. They decorate the tomb with flowers and they bring along flowers to their loved ones.
Then they head toward the football field, to admire the designs created during the year
The Tourists reach to admire the enormous quantities of kites. That day is filled with folkloric and the solemn sense of the activity with trade and tourism.
The following Sunday they enable the same space, but out of competition so that all people in the community can freely fly their kites. This will continue to provide reasons to keep the tradition of the kites that fly during the evenings of November across the Guatemalan sky.
The relationship that has existed between the inhabitants of Santiago and Sumpango gave rise to the initiation of the practice of the kites in other town. It has not yet been established which was the determining step, but it is clear that this custom was inherited.
The tradition began in 1978. The theme and the designs are more varied than in the neighboring municipality of Santiago. They set up the activity in a green area to respect the sacred ground of the cemetery, in addition to providing greater convenience to accommodate participants and tourists attending the activity.
The organizing committee has arranged new activities in order to appreciation the kites. Thus, the tradition evolves and combines the activity and adapts it to the tourism.
This resulted in the increase of its fame in a short time and has increased the number of participants and tourists.
Tribute to the dead
Most of the ceremonies offered in honor of the dead are held on the 1st of November, All Saints Day and the following day is designated for the memory of the dead.
November 1st is a national holiday, established to enable all people to visit their dead and go to their places of origin.
Traditional cuisine
It is likely that the Arabic influence on Spanish food and its fusion with the pre-Hispanic customs have given rise to the traditional meal of the dead in Guatemala:
El Fimabre. This meal is done with sausages, meats, and a variety of vegetables and vinegar. It is a cold meal, which can be related with the mourning of the people or sacrifice in memory of the deceased who no longer enjoys this world. During the colonial time they practiced this tradition also.
Another tradition deeply rooted among the indigenous communities is the custom header meal. This is the food that families carry the dead and is left on the graves and they belief that the deceased will come during the day of Acoma's dead. Families tend to cook the favorite dish of the deceased.
The way Home
Over the doors and windows are placed flowers and ornaments. This indicates the deceased persons that they are still remembered and they are welcomed home. Inside the house it’s prepared an altar with photographs of the deceased, a candle and in some occasions incense and a glass of brandy. They pray at this altar for the deceased to find his way to heaven.
The family goes to the cemetery. The tradition consists to paint and decorate with flowers the tomb. Relatives take along food, candles and incense, and they share foods and drinks. In some places they take along to the cemetery to interpret the favorite songs of their loved ones. Throughout the day there are activities that show memory, respect and honor toward the diseased persons.
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