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barriletes

The Day of the Dead in Guatemala: Giant Kites, Ancestors and All Saints’ Day

On November 1, Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez display giant handmade kites in a Maya-Kaqchikel tradition associated with remembrance and communication with ancestors.

By DocumentaryTube Team 4 min read
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In Guatemala, November 1 is observed as Día de Todos los Santos (Day of the Saints). In the Maya-Kaqchikel communities of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, the day is especially known for giant, handmade barriletes—kites displayed at local fairs as part of a tradition connected with remembrance and communication with ancestors. The practice belongs to these communities; it is not a single account of how all Guatemalans observe the day, nor is it identical to Mexico’s Día de Muertos.

What is the Day of the Dead in Guatemala?

The observance is commonly called Día de Todos los Santos, or Day of the Saints. UNESCO describes the kite fairs in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez as fairs of the Day of the Saints and the Dead. In these predominantly Maya-Kaqchikel communities, families and craftspeople make and display giant kites around November 1. The tradition combines skilled making, community participation and meanings associated with remembrance.

UNESCO’s description of the element says: “The tradition of making and flying kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango, Guatemala dates back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.” The two towns are in Sacatepéquez department. Their traditions are distinctive local practices, not a template for every Guatemalan community.

Why are giant kites made for the observance?

In the communities’ documented tradition, the kites are a means of communicating with ancestors, warding off negative spirits and promoting renewal, according to UNESCO. Their elaborate designs can also express contemporary concerns, including environmental issues, violence and human rights. These are meanings recorded for this tradition, not beliefs that should be assumed of every participant or every Guatemalan family.

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The kites are constructed with bamboo frameworks and tissue paper, according to Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports. Making them takes months and involves people of different ages, genders and abilities. UNESCO describes five stages:

  1. Design: Plan the kite’s form and visual composition.
  2. Prepare the canvas: Make the surface that will be visible when the kite is displayed.
  3. Decorate: Apply multicoloured tissue paper to create the design.
  4. Make the reverse lining: Prepare the backing for the decorated canvas.
  5. Assemble: Join the canvas, lining, fringes and tail into the finished kite.

Knowledge passes informally through taking part in the work. Local organizing committees affiliated with craftspeople, municipal authorities and private-sector supporters help organize the fairs; community-led teaching and kite-making activities are among the safeguarding efforts UNESCO records.

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When is the giant kite festival in Guatemala?

The best-known displays in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez take place on November 1. Preparations and related activities can begin earlier, but event schedules vary by year. Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports listed overnight events on October 31 and kite displays on November 1 in its 2025 program; those details do not confirm the schedule for 2026. Check current notices from local authorities or event organizers for dates, hours, access, transport and any visitor arrangements.

How are Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez different?

Both communities share the November 1 tradition of making and displaying giant kites, with local fairs shaped by community participation. The ministry’s 2025 account describes Santiago’s traditional kites as octagonal and notes a striking difference between display pieces and those that can be flown.

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Community What the sources describe
Sumpango Its November 1 festival is identified by Guatemala’s official tourism site as a Day of the Saints event. The ministry’s 2025 program listed an October 31 “Lunada,” when kite structures are installed, and an exhibition planned for 09:00 on November 1.
Santiago Sacatepéquez The ministry’s 2025 account describes octagonal traditional kites. The largest exceed ten metres in height and are too heavy to fly; smaller kites of up to five metres in diameter are raised by community members. Its 2025 program listed an October 31 “Ceremonia de Emponchados,” when families visit the municipal cemetery and decorate relatives’ graves with flowers and wreaths, followed by the November 1 kite exhibition.

The program and kite dimensions above are specifically reported by Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports for 2025; they should not be treated as current event logistics or as measurements for every kite. The available sources do not establish which town is larger, easier to visit or preferable.

What recognition has the kite tradition received?

Guatemala recognized the kite-making technique as national intangible cultural heritage through Ministerial Agreement 139-2022, as reported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the practice on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These are separate recognitions: national recognition in 2022 and UNESCO inscription in 2024. UNESCO also records community participation in the nomination and safeguarding work, including educational materials and community-organized kite-making and flying. Inscription recognizes the practice; it does not by itself guarantee its preservation.

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What is fiambre?

Fiambre is a dish associated with Guatemala’s All Saints’ Day. Guatemala’s official tourism site describes it as a signature dish for the observance. The available official source does not establish one definitive recipe, and the dish should not be presented as something every family or community prepares in the same way.

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