How to Celebrate Guatemala's Day of the Dead

On November 1 each year, Guatemala's families honor their departed loved ones during Day of the Dead festivities. Besides the traditional visit to the cemetery, Day of the Dead in Guatemala is marked with a kite festival and dining on Fiambre.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Celebrate Guatemala's Day of the Dead

1. Respect the locals as they celebrate Day of the Dead. While traditions may seem strange to tourists, this is how they honor the dead. Most families will offer to share their food and drink with you if you remain respectful.

2. Attend a local kite festival. Santiago Sacatepequez holds the largest and most well-known festival, with thousands of kites flown by families, locals and religious groups to honor the dead. The elaborate kites span several feet and are constructed almost entirely of bamboo and tissue paper.

3. Watch the horses run. As one of Guatemala's most colorful celebrations, Day of the Dead in the highland village of Todos Santos features a horse race. Not your ordinary race, riders try to stay on the horse while having drink after drink. The last man on the horse wins, unless officials stop the drunken fun due to excessive injuries.

4. Try the Fiambre, which is only made and eaten once a year as the traditional dish of Day of the Dead. Served cold, Fiambre contains a mix of cheese, meat, eggs and vegetables cured in vinegar. Some recipes call for as many as 50 different ingredients.

5. Celebrate with a drink. Guatemala's rums consistently win international acclaim, but if you aren't in the mood for hard liquor, the local beer is a fine accompaniment for the Fiambre. In some towns, you'll find quetzalteca, which is a potent sugar cane drink. Locals tend to start drinking very early during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

6. Remember that the day of the dead honors departed loved ones, so while many families celebrate, there is still a somber undercurrent to the festivities. Expect to experience a range of emotions throughout the day. Many families spend all day eating and drinking at the cemetery.

Tips & Warnings

• The people of each town decorate their cemeteries differently, so be sure to stroll through to see the painted gravestones, floral decoration and altars.

• In some villages, the festivals start on October 31 or continue on through November 2.

• Book ahead if you plan to take an organized tour over the Day of the Dead holiday. Space fills up early for tourists wanting to experience Guatemala's lavish celebrations.