Our Family Journey

Some have been asking about Christmas in Guatemala. I found this description today of the holiday season in Guatemala. Enjoy!

"Fiestas and Foods in the Christmas Tradition" by Jack Houston. Condensed from the December 2002 issue of Revue,Guatemala’s English-language magazine. Posted on the St. Johns University-Guatemala list serve.

December 7— Guatemalans spend the day engaged in a frenzy of cleaning, clearing out trash and burning it in front of their houses. The annual tradition is said to purge the homes and souls from evil in preparation for Mary, Joseph and the promised Christ child. The climax comes as night falls with the “Burning of the Devil” (Quemado del Diablo). A wooden “prince of darkness” is ignited with fanfare and fireworks under the watchful eyes of the bomberos (firemen).

December 8— “Fiesta de la Concepción” celebrates the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she is pregnant with the Messiah. [A parent emailed this correction: "Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is actually a celebration of Mary's conception without Original Sin."] It is a day for parish processions throughout the country and for setting up nativity scenes (nacimientos) in homes and public places. The favorite dessert on this holiday is crab apples (manzillas) prepared “en dulce.”

According to Catholic tradition, on December 12 the Virgin Mary appeared to a young boy in Mexico, Juan Diego (canonized as a saint 8/2002). On this day, commemorated as the “Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe,” children dress in Maya clothing and go to church for a blessing. As they depart, the boys and girls join a procession, following a small image of the Virgin Mary.

December 15 marks the beginning of nightly parish “Posadas,” reenactments of the journey to Bethlehem. Pilgrims accompany Mary and Joseph, singing carols, beating turtle drums and playing other typical Guatemalan instruments. They knock on doors seeking shelter but are turned away until they reach a designated house, where everyone is invited inside. As the holy couple is bedded down in solemn ceremony, the pilgrims scramble for refreshments. The journey continues to another house the next night.

On December 24, Catholics traditionally gather for midnight mass, beginning around 10 p.m. At midnight, Christmas Day is greeted with prayers, well wishes and a barrage of fireworks. Families head home for gift giving and traditional foods—and more fireworks. The traditional Christmas Eve dinner is tamales. Traditional fiestas and foods vary in the villages, but corn is a main ingredient. Tamales, tamalitos, chuchitos and other traditional foods are sold outside churches, on street corners and in restaurants. A fruit punch of papaya, pineapple, crab apple, prunes, raisins, cinnamon, clove and shredded coconut is served hot or cold when friends and family come to call. Hot chocolate is another holiday treat, as are buñuelos, fried puff pastry fritters in syrup made of molasses or brown sugar, anise and cinnamon.

The festivities continue on December 28, Holy Innocents Day, when the baby Jesus is kidnapped from the nacimiento by a family member.

Some gifts are exchanged on January 6, commemorating the arrival of the Wise Men, who presented gifts to baby Jesus.

Christmas festivities come to an end on February 2, Day of the “Virgen de Candelaria,” when the infant Jesus is returned and the nativities are put away for another year. By tradition, the baby Jesus brings toys to the children. "What did the baby Jesus bring you?” is a common question.