What is Festival de los Barriletes?
Huge, colorful kites are soaring over the skies of Guatemala as hundreds of people gather in cemeteries to honor their dead. But Guatemala’s residents transform their country into a land of flying colors with their Barriletes Gigantes festival, which translates to “giant kites” in English.
Why are Barriletes flown in Guatemala on the Day of the Dead?
The practice of flying barriletes during the Day of the Dead festivities is a tradition connected to their Mayan ancestry. The culture of making colorful giant kites and flying them over the cemeteries of Guatemala is a form of honoring and communicating with ancestors, family members and friends that have passed on.
What are Barriletes made of?
The barriletes are made the same way in both towns. Held together with bamboo stalks, glue, and a little bit of plastic string, they can measure anywhere between three and fifty-seven feet.
What is the name of the cemetery where the Barriletes are flown in Guatemala?
Thousands of visitors arrive at the General Cemetery of the Municipality of Santiago Sacatepequez in November 1, where artistic and very creative works of artisans are exhibited. The Giant Kites (Barriletes Gigantes) are a sight to be seen.
Why do people fly kites on Day of the Dead?
Locals believe the colorful kites help guide the souls of their loved ones to heaven. “The grandfathers and the grandmothers communicate through the kites,” she said, flanked by two other young women honored at the festival, all donning embroidered clothing and elaborate headdresses.
How long does it take to make Barriletes?
Barrilete Kites from Guatemala The festivals are part of the Dia de los Muertos, and the tradition of kites dates back over 300 years! These kites are sometimes as large as 40 meters in diameter and can take up to 6 months to build.
How much does a kite cost in Guatemala?
There are tons of stands like this everywhere. And the kites cost anywhere from $1 – $5.
Why do people fly kites in Guatemala?
Guatemalans come from all over the country to see the kites, which were traditionally made to honor dead ancestors. The custom dates back to pre-Columbian times, when the pieces of artwork represented a joining of the underworld and the living world, but have now become part of the All Saints Day celebrations.
What do kites represent in Day of the Dead?
The barriletes are giant kites that represent a communication link with the dead (the saints) and those who are alive. They honor and communicate with their loved ones by flying the kites over the cemetery.
Where are Barriletes made?
Guatemala
Barrilete Kites from Guatemala The festivals are part of the Dia de los Muertos, and the tradition of kites dates back over 300 years! These kites are sometimes as large as 40 meters in diameter and can take up to 6 months to build.
Why do they fly kites on the Day of the Dead?
No one knows when this tradition began but legend tells how every year on the Day of the Dead, bad spirits returned to bother good souls. The people of Santiago were tired of this so the elders suggested filling the sky with kites so the bad spirits would have no place to romp.
Do they fly kites in Mexico for Day of the Dead?
Each year, during the Day of the Dead, the skies above the small village of Santiago are filled with giant kites called barriletes. Guatemalan families also often seek out plazas and open fields to fly their own smaller kites. The largest kites can measure as much as 20 meters.