Guatemala celebrates the ancestral art of Giant Kites with a day of traditi

Guatemala celebrates the ancestral art of Giant Kites with a day of tradition and national pride

03-11-25

On November 1, 2025, Guatemala experienced a day filled with deep emotion, identity, and celebration. As every year, thousands of people—domestic and international visitors—gathered in the municipalities of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, in the department of Sacatepéquez, to witness one of the country’s most striking and symbolic cultural manifestations: the Giant Kite Festival, whose artisanal technique was recently recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

From the early hours, the roads leading to both towns came alive. Entire families, groups of tourists, researchers, photographers, and national and international media arrived to experience something that goes beyond the visual. It is not just a colorful spectacle, but a celebration of the bond between the living and their ancestors within the framework of All Saints’ Day. Cemeteries became spaces of gathering, memory, and ephemeral art, where the giant kites, raised to the sky, served as spiritual messengers between generations.

This 2025 edition held special meaning. For the first time, the community celebrated the festival with the pride that its age-old crafting technique has been officially inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This international recognition crowns decades of effort by the communities of Sacatepéquez, who have preserved a tradition that blends creativity, spirituality, cooperation, and the transmission of knowledge across generations.

The process of creating the kites—often spanning several months—is as fascinating as the result. Teams made up of youth, master artisans, and community leaders organize from the start of the year to design and build these monumental works of art using tissue paper, bamboo, twine, and natural adhesives. Every detail has meaning: colors stand for life and hope; figures and messages capture dreams, social calls to action, or tributes to those who have passed on. Many themes also address contemporary issues such as climate change, migration, or environmental protection, reflecting the ability of Guatemalan folk art to engage with the present without losing its roots.

The giant kites, some reaching up to twenty meters in diameter, were displayed in the cemeteries before being flown, creating an atmosphere of respect, wonder, and devotion. Visitors observed up close the assembly techniques and the precision with which hundreds of pieces of colored paper are joined to form a perfectly symmetrical composition. When the wind began to blow, the Sacatepéquez sky turned into a multicolored canvas, where the flight of the kites symbolized the union of the Guatemalan people with their departed loved ones and with nature.

Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports, together with the municipalities of Sumpango and Santiago, emphasized that this festival is not only a spiritual heritage but also a driver of cultural and tourism development. In recent years, the event has boosted the local economy, generating temporary employment, strengthening traditional gastronomy, and promoting the artisanal production of musical instruments, textiles, and souvenirs. It has also become an opportunity for younger generations to value their heritage and find in it a source of identity and social cohesion.

The day was accompanied by music, gastronomy, and artistic showcases that enriched the festive atmosphere. Visitors enjoyed typical dishes such as fiambre—prepared especially for this date—tamales, atoles, and traditional sweets, while taking part in workshops and exhibitions on the history and symbolism of the kites.

Cultural authorities, ambassadors, and representatives of international organizations attending the event highlighted Guatemala’s role as a reference in safeguarding intangible heritage. UNESCO’s recognition was described as a tribute to collective ingenuity, popular creativity, and the commitment of the communities that keep alive a tradition born more than a century ago and that today remains one of the most authentic expressions of the Guatemalan spirit.

Once again, the sky over Sacatepéquez filled with color, poetry, and remembrance. With their majestic flight, the giant kites reminded all present that culture is the most beautiful bridge between peoples and time, and that in every string, every sheet of paper, and every ascent rises the story of a country that proudly celebrates its identity and collective spirit.

Authors: Carlos María Carbonel y Juana Torres Caretti

TSTT

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