Giant kites soar in Guatemala’s All Saints Day fest

Guatemala's annual All Saints Day celebration showcases a unique blend of ancient and modern traditions through the spectacular Festival of the Giant Kites (La Feria de Barriletes Gigantes), primarily held in the towns of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango.

The festival centers around massive, intricately designed kites, some reaching up to 20 meters in diameter, constructed from natural materials including bamboo, tissue paper, and yucca-based glue. These colorful creations serve a profound cultural purpose, acting as beacons to guide the spirits of deceased loved ones who, according to tradition, return for a 24-hour visit with the living.

Young artisans, known as barrileteros, spend months secretly crafting these elaborate kites, revealing their designs only on the festival day. The traditional eight-sided shape of Guatemalan kites represents the Maya belief in the four cardinal directions plus four additional points symbolizing the sun's crown. Paper fringe adorns four sides, with its rustling believed to ward off evil spirits.

The celebration extends beyond the visual spectacle, incorporating both indigenous and Christian elements. Families attach messages to their kites for departed loved ones, and in recent years, some groups have used the platform to raise awareness about social issues including indigenous rights, environmental concerns, and women's justice.

Throughout the country, cemeteries become gathering places where families clean and decorate graves with flowers and wreaths. The air fills with the scent of copal incense as relatives share traditional foods, including fiambre, a special festival salad.

This cherished celebration, easily accessible from Antigua Guatemala, represents one of the country's most remarkable displays of cultural heritage, demonstrating how ancient indigenous beliefs harmoniously blend with contemporary practices and social consciousness.