Guatemala Festivals – Dia de los Muertos – Todos Santos Cuchumatan, Guatemala

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Located 9000 ft. in the Cuchumatanes Mountains and approximately 8 hours of rough travel from Guatemala City lies Todos Santos Cuchumatan. Main event of the celebration here is the horse race competition that happens on November 1 where horse racing and drinking happens at the same time during the event.

Before the actual event, jinetes or horsemen spend the evening in a ceremonial alcoholism that at the time of the race most men are already drunk.

When fatalities happens because someone falls during the race, Mayans considered it as an offering to the Mayan spirit world and “va a pasar un buen ” (it is going to be a good year).

On Novemver 2, the Day of the Dead, people hold graveside vigils and sweets in the shape of skeletons are distributed to children while families gather in the cemetery to mourn for their lost loved ones and to feast.

Marimba bands and drink stalls are set up among the gravestones that gives a festive mood.

On the final day of the event, continued drinking and dancing happens in a colorful traditional costumes.

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