All Saints Day in Guatemala - 618 Words

All Saints Day, which is celebrated in Guatemala, is a day of celebrating loved ones who have died. This day,â€Å"Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, originated in Mexico centuries ago.†1 It is a day of joy and not of sorrow. This is the when people pray for help from the saints who have passed on. They also pray that those who have died without becoming saints will become saints. Fancy decorations, food, and fun are all joined together to help celebrate this day in Guatemala. The home is one of the places that is beautifully decorated. An alter is set up with pictures of their loved ones, candles, flowers, bread, fruit, atole and aguardiente. Atole is a drink that is made of corn flour and water; while aguardiente is liquor made from sugar cane. The people continue their rituals and before dawn they place flowers above the doors of their home to welcome the spirits of their deceased loved ones.2 This adds to the beautiful decor of the home. Next, comes the decoratio ns at the grave side. People clean the tomb stones, paint them, and then decorate them with many colorful flowers. Flowers like lilies, chrysanthemums, and flor de muerto (a strong marigold) are used to decorate.3 At the tops of the graves are placed wax-paper wreaths.4 The cemeteries on this day turn into a massive color display. After the wreaths are placed, it is time to eat.5 The families have picnics there in the cemeteries by the graves of their loved ones. The fiambre salad is a traditionalShow MoreRelatedEssay guatemala1254 Words   |  6 Pages GUATEMALA nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Guatemala’s culture is a unique product of Native American ways and a strong Spanish colonial heritage. About half of Guatemala’s population is mestizo (known in Guatemala as ladino), people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. Ladino culture is dominant in urban areas, and is heavily influenced by European and North American trends. 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