_All Saints Day:Day of the Dead/ Día de Todos los Santos en Guatemala
Giants kites in Guatemala for Day of the Dead Photo by Juliusguate
El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day Of The Dead, is celebrated throughout Latin Amercia annually on November 1st, and 2nd. It is also the Catholic All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Although the celebrations are often combined, El Dia de los Muertos predates the introduction of Christianity by 1000 years or more.
The festival dates back to the ancient Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs, and is dedicated to the spirits of the deceased. There are many feasts, special foods, and celebrations associated with the holiday, many involving the use or depiction of skulls and skeletons, which symbolize the Dead.
One of the most spectacular events occurs in the city of Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Formerly part of the Mayan Empire, they observe the holiday by attempting direct communication with the spirits of the dead through the use of barilletas gigantes, or “Giant Kites”. These are meticulously hand-crafted, circular kites ranging from 8′ in diameter, to as large as 35 feet. They are truly spectacular. They are made of cloth, tied to a bamboo frame, and hand-painted with religious, and folk themes. A recent development is to sneak in a few political statements as well. Some kites have been designed with pictures that hint of dissatisfaction with the corruption of the Guatemalan government.
It takes months, and lots of patience to complete one of these kites, and construction usually starts around July or earlier. The kites can bring great honor to those who made them. There are prizes for the best and most flown kites, but it is the admiration of the crowds that is most coveted.
It is believed that communication with the dead is possible through these kites. On the day of the festival, everyone dresses up in colorful clothes, go to the local cemetery, clean up the grave-sites, and cover them with flowers. There are even picnics at the grave-sites. It is their way of honoring those who are no longer with them. The kites are brought to the cemetery, but are not flown until the evening.
At dusk, after everyone has dined, the kites are are launched in the strong autumn winds. The delicate kites do not last long, becoming shredded quite easily, but the brief flights of these beautiful creations are a sight to behold. The kites are thought to bring messages from the living direct to the souls of the departed.
After the flights, the remains of the kites are burned, so that the dead may rest easily. Everything returns to normal until it is time for preparations for next year’s festival.
The celebrations are open to the public, so on your next visit to Guatemala, be sure to reserve some time in November to witness this awe-inspiring event.
All Saints' Day (in the Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. In terms of Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries. In the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.
Christian denominations celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day and the Feast of All Souls Day because of the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Those who have died and are with God watch over those still living, and the saints are held to intercede with God on behalf of the living. On their part, the living pray to the saints and remember in intercessory prayers to God all who have died, particularly their deceased relatives and friends.
www.wtfevents.com
The festival dates back to the ancient Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs, and is dedicated to the spirits of the deceased. There are many feasts, special foods, and celebrations associated with the holiday, many involving the use or depiction of skulls and skeletons, which symbolize the Dead.
One of the most spectacular events occurs in the city of Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Formerly part of the Mayan Empire, they observe the holiday by attempting direct communication with the spirits of the dead through the use of barilletas gigantes, or “Giant Kites”. These are meticulously hand-crafted, circular kites ranging from 8′ in diameter, to as large as 35 feet. They are truly spectacular. They are made of cloth, tied to a bamboo frame, and hand-painted with religious, and folk themes. A recent development is to sneak in a few political statements as well. Some kites have been designed with pictures that hint of dissatisfaction with the corruption of the Guatemalan government.
It takes months, and lots of patience to complete one of these kites, and construction usually starts around July or earlier. The kites can bring great honor to those who made them. There are prizes for the best and most flown kites, but it is the admiration of the crowds that is most coveted.
It is believed that communication with the dead is possible through these kites. On the day of the festival, everyone dresses up in colorful clothes, go to the local cemetery, clean up the grave-sites, and cover them with flowers. There are even picnics at the grave-sites. It is their way of honoring those who are no longer with them. The kites are brought to the cemetery, but are not flown until the evening.
At dusk, after everyone has dined, the kites are are launched in the strong autumn winds. The delicate kites do not last long, becoming shredded quite easily, but the brief flights of these beautiful creations are a sight to behold. The kites are thought to bring messages from the living direct to the souls of the departed.
After the flights, the remains of the kites are burned, so that the dead may rest easily. Everything returns to normal until it is time for preparations for next year’s festival.
The celebrations are open to the public, so on your next visit to Guatemala, be sure to reserve some time in November to witness this awe-inspiring event.
All Saints' Day (in the Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. In terms of Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries. In the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.
Christian denominations celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day and the Feast of All Souls Day because of the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Those who have died and are with God watch over those still living, and the saints are held to intercede with God on behalf of the living. On their part, the living pray to the saints and remember in intercessory prayers to God all who have died, particularly their deceased relatives and friends.
www.wtfevents.com