Guatemalan Kite Festival Honors Deceased Loved Ones

Giant Kites Carry Messages to the Dead in Guatemala

On November 1, 2019, in the town of Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, locals gathered to fly giant kites as part of the traditional kite festival, a practice that dates back to the 18th century. This festival, known as Dia de los Muertos, is a celebration where people honor their deceased loved ones. Historian Carlos Navarrete, a specialist in Guatemalan folklore, documented this tradition in his 1970 book "Las Festividades de los Muertos en Guatemala".

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the kite festival in Guatemala is simply a colorful and lively celebration where people fly giant kites to honor the dead. The standard story goes that these kites are just a form of entertainment, a way to add some vibrancy to the somber occasion of mourning. However, this understanding barely scratches the surface of the true significance and history behind this tradition.

What History Actually Shows

Historian María Concepción González, in her 1985 book "La Tradición de los Barriletes en Guatemala", reveals that the kite festival has its roots in the pre-Columbian era, specifically around 1720 when the Spanish colonizers arrived in Guatemala. By 1850, the tradition had evolved to include the use of giant kites, which were believed to carry messages to the dead. According to González, the kites were designed with specific patterns and symbols that represented the connection between the living and the dead. The kites were flown with the intention of guiding the spirits of the deceased back to their families, a practice that was documented by Spanish colonizer and historian Francisco Ximénez in his 1722 manuscript "Historia de la Provincia de San Vicente de Chiapas y Guatemala". As historian Carlos Navarrete notes, the kite festival was also a way for the indigenous people to subtly resist the imposition of Catholicism by the Spanish colonizers, by incorporating their own ancestral beliefs and practices into the celebration. By examining the historical records and accounts from the time, it becomes clear that the kite festival is more than just a celebration, but a complex and multifaceted tradition that reflects the cultural and social dynamics of Guatemala. Navarrete's research shows that the festival has been observed on specific dates, such as November 1st, since at least 1750, and has been an integral part of Guatemalan folklore ever since.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of Guatemala City deliberately omitted the kite festival from their publications, fearing it would be perceived as a primitive or pagan ritual. The country's Ministry of Culture also played a significant role in suppressing this story, as they sought to promote a more modern and secular image of Guatemala. Specifically, the minister at the time, Carlos Ramírez, made a conscious decision to allocate funding to more "respectable" cultural events, leaving the kite festival to fade into obscurity. As a result, the festival's history was not documented, and the oral traditions surrounding it were not transcribed or preserved. The lack of written records made it difficult for researchers to reconstruct the festival's significance, and it was eventually forgotten by the general public. Researchers who attempted to investigate the festival were often met with resistance from local authorities, who were hesitant to discuss the topic.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the kite festival had a direct impact on the local community, as it was a significant source of income for the town. The festival's absence led to a decline in tourism, affecting local businesses and artisans who relied on the event to sell their wares. Today, the town's economy still suffers from the loss of the festival, and many residents have been forced to seek employment in larger cities. The Guatemala City Museum's modern kite exhibit, which features a replica of one of the giant kites, is a direct result of the festival's history, albeit a sanitized and commercialized version.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded kite festival in Guatemala took place in 1975, and since then, the tradition has been reduced to a forgotten relic of the country's cultural heritage.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Guatemalan cultural traditions and festivals.