In Santiago Sacatepéquez people communicate with the spirits of the deceased who speak through the whistle of the wind and the fluctuations and tiny movements of kites. The spectacular annual Day of the Dead Kite Festival is on 2 November.
People fly kites constructed out of cloth, coloured paper, bamboo and wire. These come in all sizes, ranging from eight to 30 feet, usually with a religious or folkloric theme. There is a prize for the best design and the kites are often flown from graveyards.
The Day of the Dead is a tradition common throughout Mexico and Central America, developed from a mixture of local religious practices and Christianity. Families congregate in cemeteries and around altars in the home, accompanied by music and song.
The Day of the Dead is a tradition common throughout Mexico and Central America, developed from a mixture of local religious practices and Christianity. Families congregate in cemeteries and around altars in the home, accompanied by music and song.