It doesn’t matter what nationality you are, most of us have fled or have tried to fly a kite. The blow of the wind marks the beginning of a race in search of this flying device that takes off no matter if it is in a field, a high hill or a cliff. Without a doubt, for most adults SUMPANGO GIANT KITES FEST is one of the best memories they keep in their hearts.
For the Guatemalan folk, November 1st is the emblematic day for the flight of kites of all sizes. In places like Sumpango,Sacatepequez kites are more than just toys to entertain, in this Guatemalan town kites have a special meaning, they are a connection between the living and the dead.
This tradition takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November of each year, and is part of the All Saints’ Day celebrations in the neighboring towns of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez. The local cemetery & the community football field are the main stages of the pre hispanic tradition .
Visitors from all around the world come to the festival, which is one of Guatemala’s main cultural events and dates back before the arrival of Europeans on the American continent.
At that time the colorful kites represented the union of the underworld and the land of the living. On the eve of the Day of all the Saints -Oct 31 st- ,at the local cemetery a Mayan xamanic ceremony takes place to bless the kites that will fly the following day.
To build one of these Giant Mayan kites it can take up to 4 months. Every part of the kite is made using nature’s bounty; the kites are held together with bamboo stalks, the glue is a mixture of yucca flower, lemon peel, and water, ropes are made of the maguey plant, and the tails are made from woven cloth.
Generally, they are made by groups of between four and thirty individuals, primarily young men, although groups of young women, married men, and children also make barriletes -Kites-. Each year is dedicated to a different theme, this can be political, religious or cultural. Originality is one of the main characteristics of these works of art.
“The weavings and kites are important cultural symbols and tied to specific ethno-linguistic Mayan identity in Guatemala, with designs depicting specific family stories, including, at times, government oppression and economic conditions,” wrote Michael K. Steinberg, an associate professor at the University of Alabama, in a report about Guatemala’s traditions.
During the celebration of the Kite Festival, the smaller kites are raised to the sky, these are the ones that participate in the elevation category. While the largest are exhibited and the design, color and theme are qualified, it is a day full of rituals that is accompanied by marimba music, typical food and thousands of participants who come with joy and praise.
Experience a unique, high-flying fiesta without taking off the ground when you venture into this maya town on Nov. 1 to witness spectacular celebrations of the Sumpango Giant kite Festival.
The kites weren’t there originally for the amusement of city folks or conceived as a tourist attraction. Their original purpose was to comfort the relatives with the loss of their loved ones, giving them a sense that they could do something to carry their spirits still “stuck” on this earth on their way to heaven ,back where they belong .
The giant kites of Sumpango Sacatepéquez are considered the best in the world and are ranked first out of 16 countries that also produce this type of art. Here in Guatemala three aspects are qualified: Colorful, theme and design.
Come with CA TRAVELERS this Day of the Dead … Live the Experience of making & flying a Giant Kite with the help of local kite fliers!!!
Click on the following link to find out more about our CA Travelers All Included packages for the 2022 Sumpango Giant Kite Fest : https://fb.me/e/3JwnQzA9p
Discover More about Guatemala, its history and tips for travelers, click here.
