Best Guatemala Festivals That Every Traveler Should Never Miss

Guatemala is one of the Latin American countries with a colorful culture emanating from its food, festivals, and tourist destinations.

One thing that is alluring about Guatemala is that it has influences from the Mayas and the Spaniards that are evident in this country.

According to Travel Experta, Guatemala's traditions are usually from Mayan religions and customs, intertwined with Catholic tendencies when celebrating their holidays. This makes Guatemala an interesting country with festivals culturally rooted in its customs.

Best Guatemala Festivals You Should Experience

If you're thinking of going to Guatemala, you might want to time it when the country is set to have a festivity. To help you decide which festival you should go to, here are the celebrations in Guatemala that will make you experience the country on a whole new level.

Coffee Harvest Celebration

If coffee is part of your daily life, you might want to travel to Guatemala around February. During this month, I Explore reported that the town of Frajianes is holding a festival for the arrival of the harvest.

It is known that Guatemala is a world-famed exporter of high-quality coffee. At Coffee Harvest Celebration, you can expect a lot of grand processions through town with food and dancing every 2nd and 4th.

Semana Santa

"Semana Santa" is being celebrated during the Holy Week in countries dominated by Catholics like Guatemala. Depending on the Christian calendar, the country celebrates Easter holy week in March or April. Travelers will likely see Mayan traditions mixed with Catholicism.

According to Co Educ, the cobblestone streets of Antigua are covered in rich carpets of colored sawdust. Also called "alfombras," these carpets are meticulously crafted and feature designs of the Mayan and Christian symbolism.

Processions are also being held with clouds of incense from monks and nuns processing through the streets, making it a little more special.

Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day)

For countries that are previously controlled by other nations, celebrating Independence day is usually observed. If you want to experience how Guatemalans celebrate their Independence day, then you must come in September.

According to Landed Travel, the country celebrates Dia de la Independencia every 15th of September, marking the country's freedom from Spain in 1821.

During the event, buildings and buses are decorated with the nation's color, blue and white. The country also holds military parades, fiestas, dances, and fireworks.

Coban Folkloric Festival

One of the most awaited festivals in the country is the Folkloric Festival held in Coban every last week of July. During this time, rodeos, parades, and traditional art exhibitions are held. However, the festival's highlight is the Rabin Ajau or the "daughter of the King" competition.

Co Educ reported that Mayan girls from across Guatemala arrive in Coban each year wrapped in their traditional "huipil" and "morga," or blouse and skirt, of their hometown. Like a beauty pageant, the girls will compete with each other for the title of the Mayan princess.

Mayan New Year

The new year may be usually celebrated in every corner of the world. But Guatemala is also celebrating its Mayan new year, which is a different celebration from what we know.

According to I Explore, the Mayan calendar has only 260 days, so the date of this event varies. Experiencing the country's culture from its Mayan roots will be evident during this time, as many of the country's sacred sites celebrate this occasion.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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