Lent in Guatemala
Lent in Guatemala is a very special time full of tradition and culture. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. During this time, many people go to church, pray, and think about how to become better people. Every Friday, there are Holy Vigils ("velaciones") in different churches. Families visit the churches to see beautiful decorations, candles, and religious images.
One of the most famous traditions in Guatemala is making carpets, called alfombras, on the streets. People use flowers, colored sawdust, fruit, pine needles, and other materials to create beautiful designs. These carpets are made for the processions, where people carry religious statues through the streets. The carpets are made with love and are destroyed when the procession walks over them, which is part of the tradition.
Food is also an important part of Lent in Guatemala. Many people eat traditional dishes like sweet chickpeas (garbanzos en miel), mole with fried plantains, and crazy corn (elotes locos), a street food made with corn, mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese, and hot sauce. On Fridays, many people do not eat meat and prefer to eat fish or vegetarian dishes.
Lent ends with Palm Sunday and Easter Week (Semana Santa), which is the most important celebration. The streets are full of music, incense, and processions. Many Guatemalans take time off work to be with their families and enjoy the traditions. Lent in Guatemala is a mix of faith, art, food, and family, and it is one of the most beautiful times of the year.
One of the most famous traditions in Guatemala is making carpets, called alfombras, on the streets. People use flowers, colored sawdust, fruit, pine needles, and other materials to create beautiful designs. These carpets are made for the processions, where people carry religious statues through the streets. The carpets are made with love and are destroyed when the procession walks over them, which is part of the tradition.
Food is also an important part of Lent in Guatemala. Many people eat traditional dishes like sweet chickpeas (garbanzos en miel), mole with fried plantains, and crazy corn (elotes locos), a street food made with corn, mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese, and hot sauce. On Fridays, many people do not eat meat and prefer to eat fish or vegetarian dishes.
Lent ends with Palm Sunday and Easter Week (Semana Santa), which is the most important celebration. The streets are full of music, incense, and processions. Many Guatemalans take time off work to be with their families and enjoy the traditions. Lent in Guatemala is a mix of faith, art, food, and family, and it is one of the most beautiful times of the year.
Questions about Lent
- When does Lent in Guatemala start?
- What happens every Friday?
- What is one of the most famous traditions in Guatemala during Lent?
- What are carpets made of?
- What are the traditional dishes during Lent?
