CHAPINADAS

Semana Santa or Holy Week is the longest holiday during the year which provides an oportunity to organize visits to the many turistic sites in the country.  Some of the traditional places to visit are Panajachel, Tikal, Antigua Guatemala, the beaches and the Recreational parks Xetulul and Xocomil.  However, there are many other places where there are not many people and provide a sense of adventure because of their abundance of flora, fauna and water.

Lovers of water can visit places like Semuc Champey and The Caves of Lankin in Alta Verapaz.  In Izabal Rio Dulce, The Fort of San Felipe de Lara and Lake Amatitlan in the central region of Guatemala.  There are also lakes and lagoons like Ayarza and Los Pinos in Santa Rosa, Atescatempa in Jutiapa, Yolnabaj and Magdalena in Huehuetenango.  In all of these places it is possible to organize camping trips, fishing, canoing, biking, horse riding and canopying.

Lovers of Mayan architecture can visit places la Tak’Alik Ab’aj in Retalhuleu, Quirigua in Izabal, Zaculeu in Huehuetenango and Yaxha Nakum in Peten.  

Located in the more extensive forrest of Central America, El Salto de Chilasco in Salama, Baja Verapaz comes down from a branch of the Sierra de Las Minas to form a cascade of about 130 meters high.  This affluent is 1880 meters above sea level and 146 kilometers away from Guatemala City.  El Salto de Chilasco means "Dark Mountains" in Poqomchi’ language.  This cascade is formed by various streams of clear water running in the mountains.  Access to this place is hard in the last three kilometers because of the inclination of the terrain.  It can only be reached on foot or by horse.  This cascade is only one of the attractives of this area.  Ecologists have the opportunity of enjoying the diversity of flora and fauna of the place.  There are other waterfalls along the way such as Lomo del Macho and Rincon del Paraiso.  It is also possible to arrange trips that include living with the locals so that you can get to know their costums, crafts and other actitivies.  Here is a link to this place.

http://www.chilasco.net.ms/

Naj Tunich means "Stone over the humid area".  Replicas of the paintings on the Naj Tunich Caves are being exhibited in another cave located 460 meters away from the original cave. Naj Tunich located in Poptun, Peten was discovered two decades ago but was closed to the public to protect the paintings from vandalism and to treat the paintings against fungus.  With this exhibition turists can appreciated the Mayan representations with include petroglyphs, human faces and a representation of the ages of spitituality. 

The main characteristics of Santo Tomas Chichicastenango have always been its turism, folclor and its market days on thursdays and sundays.  Chichicastenango is visited by thousands of national and international turists every year especially during the change of the cofradias or brotherhoods and its saint day.  In contrast with previous decades, Chichicastenango has been loosing its traditional infrastructure to modern constructions that have nothing to do with its traditional colonial aspect.  Chichicastenango is located 2300 metres above sea level, covered in fog and surrounded by valleys and mountains.  Despite its isolation, it has kept its importance as a commercial enclave. 

Market day during sundays is very special because the brotherhoods have a procession during that day.  The inhabitants of the place have joined Catholic and Mayan traditions.  To enjoy more of these traditions, the best places are the Church of Santo Tomas and Pascual Abaj.  Pascual Abaj is a Mayan sanctuary built in honor of the Mayan God of the Earth.  Visitor find a town with a special colonial flavor and full of mixed traditions.

Faith without borders in Esquipulas, Chiquimula. During the month of january, there is a proverb that is heard more than the others.  The proverb is "All the roads lead to Esquipulas".  During january, the Black Christ is venerated by people from all over the country and also by catholics from Central America, Mexico, United States and Canada.  The Black Christ is considered to be miraculous by its many faithful followers.  Esquipulas was founded between 1560 and 1570.  The image of the Black Christ was sculpted by Quirio Catano in 1594.

The beaches of Sipacate, Escuintla are the perfect place to enjoy and rest during any season.  Located 140 km. away from Guatemala City, the Sipacate Beaches have a great deal to offer to national and international turists because of the tranquility of the sea.  In Sipacate, it is possible to enjoy different kinds of food, however the traditional food of the area are the lobsters of the place.  Thousands of visitors go to Sipacate during the year but it can not be compared with the amount of visitors that San Jose Beach gets.  The main advantage of Sipacate is the tranquility that the places provides.  Sipacate beach is a nice place to surf because even though the waves are small during day time, early in the morning and at night time they have the appropiate size to practice aquatic sports.

In Tecpan, Guatemala there is a collection of more than 300 archeological pieces collected in the lands around Tecpan.  These pieces are exhibited since 1992 in the community museum of Kumatzin Jay, which was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Nation in 1995.  The majority of the pieces corresponds to the Post Classic Period of the kaqchikeles.  Visitors can see vases, whistles, ceremonial incense holders, grinding stones, jade and obsidian pieces.  The main focus of the museum is to conserve and rescue archeological pieces found in the zone and to show the kaqchikel culture. 

During many years, the paintings of San Juan Comalapa have been recognized because of its quality and precision with regards to the custums and traditions of this town.  The art form of San Juan Comalapa started in the 1930’s when a painter by the name of Andres Curruchiche started painting  with oil and his creativity was noted so much that he started showing his art in the United States.  In his exhibits, Curruchiche got to surpass the record set by the exhibits of Spanish painter Picasso.  Because of his world and international successes, Curruchiche felt compromised with his place of birth and decided to teach the new generations his form of painting.

In San Juan Comalapa there are 500 painters and the majority of them still use the techniques used by Curruchiche.  These painters are dedicated to paint the costums, life experiences and traditions of the indian towns.  The fame obtained by these paintings bring visitors from all over the world.  One of the main characteristics of the paintings of San Juan Comalapa is that every single one of them is original and unique because they are not painted again.  The name of Comalapa comes from the kaqchikel "chi royal xot" that means "Beside the fountain of comales".

Guatemalans eat tamales during the entire year but the tamales eaten during dinner on Christmas nighat are special.  Maybe it is the magic during this celebration, or maybe the sound of the firecrackers, or maybe the time spent with the family the make the tamales during Christmas night very special.  The tamales along woth the chocolate have prehispanic roots.  Some of the ingredients used to make tamales come from the Spanish and Egyptian culture.  The traditional food served along with the tamales are the fruit punch, chocolate, and manzanilla water.  Even though the way of making tamales have changed with time, it has kept its traditional way.  Depending on what area you go to, the tamales are made in different ways.  In Quetzaltenango for example, the tamales have the traditional ingredients and some non-traditional like rice and potato.  There are different king of tamales like sweet, green and paches.  In the east part of Guatemala the tamales are eaten with tortillas and cheese or cream.  In the highlands of Guatemala, it is a costum to bless the pot and the comal where the tamales are cooked.  In Coban, it is organized a Tamal Competition where people compite to show the more exquisite and exotic tamal.  Also in the Verapaces region, the tamales are cooked underground.  Hope you enjoy your tamales with your family.

The Nativity scene was brought to Guatemala by Hermano Pedro de Bethancourt 300 years ago.  In modern times, it is a christmas tradition combining creativity and dedication.  Making a Nativity scene with angels, sheep herders and Baby Jesus is a tradition inherited by generations.  Hermano Pedro de Bethancourt (1626-1667) introduced this tradition in Guatemala.  The makings of the nativity scene and the posadas that remain us of the trip Mary and Joseph took to reach Jerusalem and in doing so accomplished their objective of the Roman census and the birth of Jesus in Belem.

Since the beginnings of the XIX century, the nativity scene was not only seen in churches but also in houses.  The nativity scene is directed mainly by the mother of the house using sawdust from different colors, musk and mud figurines that are sold for this festivities in the markets across the nation.  The nativity scene is an spanish heritage but only in Guatemala has its distinctive characteristic.  It is a colorful display that incorporates Mayan pop art, spanish influence and catholic tradition.

Even though the most important purpose of the nativity scene is to remember the birth of Jesus, the Guatemalan ingenuity can not stand aside.  In the nativity scene of the Deeds of Brother Pedro in Antigua Guatemala, a water fountain, illumination and a house built with authentic adobe was built.  In this nativity scene, four months were spent to make and dress the images, to place the pine, to install the lights and to build the house.