Day of the Dead

What am amazing experience! I have heard about the Latin cultures celebrating the death of their loved ones in the cemetery, but it is quite different to actually experience it in real life.

There was a group of us that went to Sumpongo (misspelled) for the kite festival. Upon our arrival we walked through the cemetery where they have bright colors on all the tombstones. There were a ton of people decorating the graves with flowers, kids running around with kites, some were burning things. While others were eating and having a picnic with their families.

After going through the cemetery we walked up this hill to a field where the kite festival was being held. It was amazing. There were kites up to 30 meters around (and no Lisa, they don't fly). Most of them had elaborate colors depicting social scenes prominent at this time in the country. There was a ton of people and a lot of celebration.

We then took a short right to San Antonio (I don't think this is the right name now?) where there was another festival going on. This one was better than the first because the kite festival was actually being held in the cemetery. It was amazing. Just think of a fair going on in a cemetery. There was so much joy and celebration for life and death.

I had to stand there to absorb it all in. Watching the children play, people eating and laughing, kites flying you couldn't help but take a different stance on death. Originally the kites were used to scare off evil spirits, but now it is more for celebration. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to share this experience with the Guatemalans here!