Holidays and festivities in Guatemala

National Holidays and days of importance

There are ten national holidays in Guatemala. Those days mean also a paid leave for workers. In spite of that, in bigger cities, you will find that many supermarkets will be opened, even banks in commercial centers. An important thing to know is the rule that if the holiday falls on Sunday, paid leave will be extended on Monday, but this is mostly applied to the government employees.

Besides those holidays, there are local ones, usually day of a patron saint of a particular city/town/village. For example, Guatemala City celebrates Assumption Day on August 15^th. Then, there are some dates that body in charge of the banking sector in Guatemala (la Superintendencia de Bancos de Guatemala) announces as a bank holiday, as well as some other dates that are being observed.

Important local festivities of national significance

January 15^th – Black Christ of Esquipulas

It is a pilgrimage observed by thousands to the Basilica of the Black Christ. This event culminates on the 15th after a week-long festival.

Variable - Easter week in Antigua Guatemala

Although the Easter Week is notable in whole Guatemala with processions (that block the traffic) Antigua Guatemala is well-known for this festival. All hotels in town are booked in advance, traffic within city limits is very restricted and you will encounter many problems if you don’t anticipate this event. On the other side, Holy Week in Antigua is a great cultural happening very attractive to tourists and experience of a lifetime.

Last week of July - Folkloric Festival of Rabinal Ajau, Cobán, Alta Verapaz

Translated, the festival means “The daughter of the king” (also known as Rabin Ajau or Rabin Ajaw). Yes, it is a beauty pageant where native people of Q’eqchi’ Maya elect their queen with the participation of the native girls from all over Guatemala. Besides that, there is a traditional dance of the Paabanc that takes place after the election with the participation of the seven native brotherhoods.

November 1^st  - All Saints Day in Todos Santos

Day of the dead is an important festivity in Todos Santos near Huehuetenango where the horse race is organized.

November 1^st - Giant Kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez and some other towns in Guatemalan Highlands

Very attractive festivity that includes the building of the giant kites, some of whom are more than 20 meters tall. Each kite/project is realized by one group of people that include the message to the kite design. Usually, those are the messages of nature protection, women’s rights, education, and general social goals.

December 7^th - Burning of the Devil (Quema del Diablo)

All over the country Guatemalans take everything burnable, such as waste paper, old household items, as well as specially designed piñatas (little red and black devils that have the number seven on them) and set it afire to cleanse their households for the holy weeks to come.

December 21^st - Santo Tomas the Patron of Chichicastenango

St. Thomas the Apostol is the saint that protects Chichicastenango, a town known for its open markets twice a week (Thursday and Sunday). K'iche Maya people that consist 95% of the region inhabitants organize also many dance events on that day and dances include Dance of the snakes and Palo Volador (Flying Stick) that attract the attention of the tourists. The Day of Santo Tomas is a culmination of the series of events that start on the December 13^th.

 Living in Guatemala section has two articles that may be of interest:

Yearly holidays in Guatemala

Market days in the Guatemalan highlands