Our Last Stop in Sacatepequez: Sumpango

Photos by galasdeguatemala.com, used with authorization.

During the colonial times, the Kakchiquel town of Tzun-pen, once converted into the Christianism was dedicated to Saint Augustine Bishop and the name changed to San Agustin Tzumpango. As time went by, probably to make the pronunciation and writing easier, in 1825 when the town was formally integrated to the Department of Sacatepequez, the official name was registered as we now it these days: Sumpango.

For the visit we did to Santiago Sacatepequez a couple of weeks ago, we already know about the Giant Kites Festival that occurs every November 1 to commemorate the Day of the Dead. I am bringing the same theme one more time, because even though the Santiago's festival is the one officially acknowledged as the original,  it is Sumpango's  celebration the one that has become famous all over the world.

The reason is simple: location. It turns out that the cemetery is next to a large open space, right before the Pan American highway and it is easier to get there, to park, and to walk around... Additionally, you are not going to feel like you are disturbing the peace of the graves in the cemetery. 

Nevertheless, don't miss the opportunity to take a look of the graves, they are beautifully decorated and the rituals that take place in the cemetery can be appreciated at its best.

About the giant kites, certainly the main attraction, what else can I tell you? Only a last recommendation, enjoy the following videos as they are good productions where we can appreciate these works of art in detail.

Santiago Sacatepequez: Credences Made Art

Photos in this page by galasdeguatemala.com, used with authorization.

Santiago Sacatepequez is another Municipality of the Department of Sacatepequez and it is located only 34 kilometers West from Guatemala City. Most of the population is comprised by Maya Cakchiquel descendants and they speak Cakchiquel.

Every July 25th., there is a festival to honor the saint patron, Santiago Apostle (James, son of Zebedee); however, Santiago Sacatepequez is world famous for the celebration of the Day of the Dead and All Souls, celebrated on November 1st. and 2nd. This is the time when giant kites (barriletes) up to ten meters in diameter, made of tissue paper and bamboo, soar in the skies.

This tradition was born here, in Santiago Sacatepequez and, according to some documents, it is said it started at the beginning of the XX century; I am not really sure about that and my personal conclusion is that, being Guatemala a place where the oral tradition prevails, it was probably until those dates when this celebration was documented in written documents. Even within the population of Santiago, there are several opinions regarding this matter. What I can tell without any doubt, is that the kites are now larger, more colorful, much more beautiful than they were before.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is not to give you a lecture, but to share with you this amazing expression of credences made art. One of the most accepted credence indicates that the kites are intended to send the bad spirits away, to become messengers between the live and the dead, and to be part of the celebration, a celebration that honors life and death.

While this colorful and intriguing festival is going on, families follow the usual custom on all souls day of laying flowers on their relatives' graves, and holding graveside vigils sharing food, extraordinary food I must add that deserve a separate post.

From all the videos I found and watched, I want to share two, the first one, from the Plug Sonido Channel, a documentary about the ceremony thanking Mother Earth and asking her permission to cut the bamboo; the second one, from the Tierra de Lenguas Channel, with interesting information and extraordinary images. Please click and enjoy!