20 TYPICAL GUATEMALAN TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The traditions and customs of Guatemala are the result of an extensive cultural tradition that extends from the Mayans to the present day. Among them are the carnival, Holy Week, the Dolores strike, the burning of the bull, the posadas, among others.

Influenced by Hispanic colonization, the Catholic religion and even political activity, their expressions are many and varied. Throughout the country, there are patron saint festivals, dances, fairs, brotherhoods and rites, the product of a fusion between religious and mystical tradition.

Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala.

The prevalence of the Mayan culture, the confluence of races and historical processes have shaped this fascinating town and its beautiful cultural heritage. You may also be interested in seeing 10 typical Argentine customs and traditions.

Guatemalan Custom and Traditions

1- The carnival in Guatemala

As is customary in countries with a Hispanic tradition, this celebration is held throughout the Chapin territory. Coming from the Latin carnem levare (abandoning meat), it is related to Lent and the custom of not eating this food for 40 days.

According to religious tradition, its celebration begins on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It is also associated with the end of Christmas, which is represented by January 6.

In this culture, costumes are not mandatory and rather it is a general holiday. It is characterized by empty shells painted with watercolor filled with pica pica or flour that children and adults use to play Carnival in schools and parks.

2- Easter

Source: Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium via Wikimedia Commons)

The Semana Mayor takes place every year between the months of March and April. This post-Lenten celebration features several processions that stage the death and passion of Christ. It is already common for this commemoration to show the manufacture of rugs and funeral processions with people dressed up for the occasion.

There are some events that have international fame and that attract people from different parts of the world. Among them are The Nazarene of the Church of San José, The Review of the Temple of Mercy, the Reclining Christ or Christ of Love of the Temple of Santo Domingo, the Lord of the Entombment of San Felipe and others.

3- The Rabinal Achí

Also known as the Tun dance, it is an international celebration that represents the only pre-Hispanic ballet in the American continent. Its performance is conditioned by various rituals to which the participants undergo. One of them is the visit to the mountains that give name to this tradition to ask permission 7 times.

Another essential requirement that dancers must meet is related to sexual abstinence during the 30 days prior to the dance and 30 days after it. This representation often takes place during the election of the Rabin Ajau as part of the cantonal festival.

4- The Corpus Christi of Patzún

Source: Municipality of Patzún, public domain file

Framed in the religious context, this famous popular tradition includes the making of triumphal arches with local fruits, the creation of rugs, dances and fireworks. All this is part of the veneration of San Simón in San Andrés de Itzapa, a god who can be both good and bad.

It is an event organized by the local indigenous brotherhood linked to magic and religion. It has a very crowded chapel where the saint is offered incense, cigars, liquor and they also give him money, jewelry, plants and animals. This figure is very influential in this and other countries in the region.

5- The black Christ of Esquipulas

Source: Roberto Urrea via Wikimedia Commons)

This tradition occurs in one of the most impressive sites in Central America and is also known as the trifinio (Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala). It is born from the process of Spanish evangelization and is related to deities of color such as Ek Chua or Ek Balam Chua.

It takes place in the department of Chiquimula, considered the center of the world for hosting this sanctuary. It takes place during the month of January and includes pilgrimages, penances, offerings, payment of promises, thanks and more.

6- The strike of Dolores

Source: Adels via Wikimedia Commons)

This traditional satirical march includes a series of activities carried out by the students of the University of San Carlos every Friday in Dolores. Created in 1898 as a measure of pressure on the government, its most important symbols are La Chabela (dancing skeleton), La Chalana (song), the newspaper No Nos Tientes and the Bufo Parade.

Throughout its history, it has been repressed several times with some regrettable incidents, but it continues to be celebrated. It is a demonstration where young people take the opportunity to show their discontent in a humorous way and satirizing characters of the government in power.

7- The burning of the bull

This custom consists of a dance of Spanish origin that is linked to the theme of herds and their foremen. The dance tells the story of a foreman who prevents the cowboys from fighting a bull and they decide to get him drunk to do it. The narrative ends with the chief's death at the hands of the bravest bull.

Its origin is also linked to the arrival of fireworks and it is common to see it in many regions. The torito is a wooden or wire frame filled with lighted fireworks that someone carries on their shoulders in the crowd while people try to fight it.

8- The tape race

Source: Ondando via Wikimedia Commons)

This activity is also known as the Game of Roosters and it takes place after the ceremony in which the brotherhood asks the saints and Mother Earth for permission. The riders wear a formal costume that includes colorful scarves, red ribbons and feathers.

The death of a horseman is a good omen related to abundance and health, so it is celebrated. The turns to enter the track are controlled and participants must pay to ride for a specified time or for a number of laps.

9- The cold meat

Within gastronomy, this dish is one of the most emblematic of Guatemalan culture and is consumed during All Saints' Day (November 1). Its creation dates back to colonial times, it has a salad look and can include up to 50 different ingredients.

This multicultural dish contains Mesoamerican vegetables, Spanish or Arab sausages and the particular contributions of each region. It is a family activity that commemorates the deceased and is then accompanied with traditional desserts such as squash, chickpeas in honey or jocotes.

10- The giant kites

Source: Nimrod Zaphnath via Wikimedia Commons)

Related to the Day of the Dead, they are paper structures made by locals to scare away spirits from homes and cemeteries. In the Santiago Festival everything begins at 4 in the morning to take them to the cemetery and finish putting them together.

The flying kites are kept until 4 in the afternoon and the next day people go with candles to the cemetery for the spirits to return to their homes. The kites on the ground are raised and at the end of the ritual they are burned by the children so that the smoke can guide the lost souls.

11- The posadas

Source: Joseriaki via Wikimedia Commons)

As in Europe, Guatemalans usually place the Christmas tree that has decorations, lights and the typical star at the top. Before, pine branches were used, but this practice has fallen into disuse due to indiscriminate felling, preferring artificial trees or other species.

This celebration has its maximum expression on December 24 and 25 with the celebration of the midnight mass one hour before midnight. When twelve o'clock arrives, fireworks, Merry Christmas wishes, prayers before the Child Jesus and fraternal hugs are common.

13- The burning of the devil

Similar to other American traditions, it is performed as a ritual of purification of everything bad that has happened in the year. Previously people used all kinds of junk and junk to burn them. Today, devil-shaped piñatas are used and burned in front of houses every December 7.

14- The flying stick

Source: Simon Burchell via Wikimedia Commons)

Also practiced in southern Mexico, this Mesoamerican dance is done to ask for the fertility of the soil and rain.

It consists of a cut tree with a rotating structure at the top that also has 4 strings for the dancers. Decked out with feathers and masks, they jump into the void bound by their feet and spinning around the pole.

15- The wedding requests

Source: alexcocopro Source: Simon Burchell via Wikimedia Commons)

Faithful to certain traditional customs, the groom's Guatemalan parents usually arrange an appointment with the bride's parents to discuss the plans of the future spouses. Generally, the groom's father is in charge of discussing these matters.

Likewise, the mother participates to publicize the plans of the couple and indicate how they can collaborate with happiness and their integration into society. After mutual agreement is established, the bride's parents provide a snack as an offering of goodwill.

16- The popular sounds

Source: Hernán Martínez Sobral, public domain file

The musical tradition encompasses all peoples and the Guatemalan is no exception. Using local instruments such as the single or double keyboard marimba, drum, small drum, whistle, harp, violin, guitar, and others, they have created various very distinctive melodies.

Among the best known are the son de la Chabela, the son basin, they are typical, they are chapín, they are for Easter, they are ceremonial, they are traditional and they are indigenous, among others.

17- Traditional dances

The costume dance in Guatemala is one of the most important folk dances.

Within the context of dance, there are many and very varied expressions that this Mesoamerican people of so much mix and influence possesses. This has given rise to expressions such as the dance of monkeys, that of devils, that of sailors and that of our old animals.

Other notable examples are: the dance of the serpent, that of the dragon or taragón, that of the conquest, that of the old men, that of the güegüechos and the Yurumein dance. Likewise, there are Garífuna dances, such as the Chip, the Yancunú, the Sambai, the Majani, the Gunjae, the Zumba and others.

18- Teacher's Day

Professor María Chinchilla Recinos. Source: Esly Enriquez via Wikimedia Commons)

In honor of the death of the teacher María Chinchilla Recinos, in Guatemala they established June 25 as Teacher's Day. This event occurred on the 25th of that month in 1944, during a massive protest against the dictatorship of Jorge Ubico, which was violently repressed by the forces of order.

This demonstration is an annual reminder that is held to remember the fundamental role of the teacher within society. Historically, the teaching profession in many Latin American countries is despised and these professionals live as second-class citizens.

19- Birthday celebration

Typical birthday menu in Guatemala

All cultures show different ways of commemorating this occasion depending on the age of the birthday boy. In Guatemala it is customary to burn cohetillos at 5 in the morning, congratulate the recipient and eat a tamale accompanied by chocolate and French bread for breakfast.

When it comes to children, the party is usually held in the afternoon with the now traditional piñatas full of sweets and a favorite character. This is accompanied with the cake, other sweets and typical dishes such as chuchitos and tostadas.

20- Stag or hen parties

Bachelor's party. Source: Partybus Source: Esly Enriquez via Wikimedia Commons)

This Anglo-Saxon custom has become ingrained in this culture and can be for both men and women. In the first case, it is normal for the celebration to take place in a restaurant or a nightclub where pranks are played on the future husband.

As for women, the party can be organized by the mother of the bride, her sisters or close friends. It can be in a place or business where the future wife is entertained with funny gifts, games and jokes.

References

1. Chronicle (2015). "Traditions link people to their history." Recovered from cronica.gt.
2. Valenzuela, Heber (2013). The departments of Guatemala. Recovered from slideshare.net.
3. Don Quixote (no date). Guatemalan customs. Recovered from donquijote.org.
4. García, Alejandro (no date). Traditions and customs of Guatemala. Recovered from academia.edu.
5. Chapin world. (without date). Guatemalan customs. Recovered from mundochapin.com.