Mayan Indians believe that the spirits of their ancestors can return to their homes on earth for one day each year. Family members welcome the spirits with flowers and their favorite foods. They spend the day visiting with the spirits in the cemetery. This tradition is called Day of the Dead, el Dia de lo Muertos. Itakes place on November 1st. In two mountain villages in Guatemla, the villagers add something special to their welcome. They make giant kites, barriletes, from tissue paper and bamboo. The kites are bright and very, very big. Some are more than fifty feet wide. The sun shines through the layers of tissue to make the kites glow. Their beauty sends messages of love and respect to the visiting spirits.
On the night of October 31st, the strongest young men in each village dig holes for the poles to display the giant kites. The poles are long and heavy. Everyone must be careful not to drop a pole. Early the next morning the kite frames are wired and tied together. Quickly the kites are pasted to their frames. They are raised on the poles for display. With tails and kite lines, some are ready to fly.
By midday thousands of people have crowded into the field, campo. Everyone admires the kites. They look like stained glass windows in the sun. People buy special food and cotton candy for the children. The kite makers compete for prizes. Judges from the village award trophies for small kites, medium kites and large kites. Even the small kites are eighteen feet wide. They are the kites that may fly. The others are too heavy to lift into the air.
Enjoy the video. It captures the spirit of the day.
Stephanie
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