Central American Winter Festival Calender
Central America has long been a popular destination for the winter traveller, with tourists flocking to the relative heat of Guadalajara's equatorial beaches. However, move away from the coast and into the cities and you'll find a fascinating cultural explosion of colour and costume taking place. The run up to the winter solstice represents an important milestone in both the Hispanic Christian and Native American calendars. The combination of the two makes for a truly electrifying and memorising run of festivities. Here are some must visits -
2 November - Mexican Da de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) €" Mexico City
The fantastic mixture of fantastic, explosive colour with the macabre is a permanent fixture throughout Latin America. However, few do it better than the people of Mexico City. The festival to honour the deceased starts off in cemeteries and at gravestones, but ends in the streets in a wonderful cavalcade of music, food, Tequila and dance, that more than anything celebrates the wonders of being alive. This is a mixture of ancient Mayan and Spanish tradition, that has resulted in a truly unique spectacle. The decoration of little skeletons that hang from the alters and people's homes are worth the trip alone.
7 December - La Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil) - Guatemala City/Antigua.
Each year on the eve of the immaculate conception, Guatemalans gather to dump trash and unwanted items gathered throughout the year to set on fire in a mass cleansing ritual. The festival is packed with fantastic smells, sights and sounds as whole communities come together to lay out food and play music throughout the city. Some even take the guise of the devil to chase and scare children. Those who volunteer in Guatemala city and Antigua are invited to take part in the festivities, which gives foreigners a great chance to practise their Spanish and interact with locals.
15 January - Alajuelita Fiestas (Honor Black Christ of Esquipulas) - Alajuelita, Costa Rica.
In January of each year a procession departs Basilica, which makes it's way to the famous effigy of the Black Christ in Alajuelita. A pilgrimage of thousands comes together to honour a statue created by the native Americans of Jesus for the Spanish settlers in Guatemala, which is said to perform miracles. For those who travel through or volunteer in Costa Rica, this is a rare chance to glimpse this, Costa Rica's most solemnly held beliefs, while interacting with the locals in a festival that is warm and truly welcoming of all.
2 November - Mexican Da de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) €" Mexico City
The fantastic mixture of fantastic, explosive colour with the macabre is a permanent fixture throughout Latin America. However, few do it better than the people of Mexico City. The festival to honour the deceased starts off in cemeteries and at gravestones, but ends in the streets in a wonderful cavalcade of music, food, Tequila and dance, that more than anything celebrates the wonders of being alive. This is a mixture of ancient Mayan and Spanish tradition, that has resulted in a truly unique spectacle. The decoration of little skeletons that hang from the alters and people's homes are worth the trip alone.
7 December - La Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil) - Guatemala City/Antigua.
Each year on the eve of the immaculate conception, Guatemalans gather to dump trash and unwanted items gathered throughout the year to set on fire in a mass cleansing ritual. The festival is packed with fantastic smells, sights and sounds as whole communities come together to lay out food and play music throughout the city. Some even take the guise of the devil to chase and scare children. Those who volunteer in Guatemala city and Antigua are invited to take part in the festivities, which gives foreigners a great chance to practise their Spanish and interact with locals.
15 January - Alajuelita Fiestas (Honor Black Christ of Esquipulas) - Alajuelita, Costa Rica.
In January of each year a procession departs Basilica, which makes it's way to the famous effigy of the Black Christ in Alajuelita. A pilgrimage of thousands comes together to honour a statue created by the native Americans of Jesus for the Spanish settlers in Guatemala, which is said to perform miracles. For those who travel through or volunteer in Costa Rica, this is a rare chance to glimpse this, Costa Rica's most solemnly held beliefs, while interacting with the locals in a festival that is warm and truly welcoming of all.
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