The Giant Kites of Guatemala’s Day of the Dead Celebrations

Mexico might be home to the most famous Day of the Dead celebrations in the world, but Guatemala has its own amazing twist on things.

Each year on Nov. 1, Guatemalan families gather to pay respects to their deceased ancestors. All over the country the holiday is marked by gatherings, but in the towns of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatapequez, they do things differently.

All year-round young people from the towns work on huge ornate kites made from brightly colored paper, some of which can reach 9 meters in diameter. On the weekend of All Saints Day, the kites are taken to the town cemetery and raised to the sky.

While the larger ones don’t fly, they stand as an amazing monument to the dead. They also carry political messages for the crowds that come to see them. Down below, bands play and families gather at the tombs of their ancestors, eating and drinking in their honor.

It’s a truly remarkable celebration that is quite disconcerting for people from countries where death is treated much more solemnly. If you’re in Guatemala on Day of the Dead, make sure you get to Sumpango or Santiago to see how the locals celebrate.