there are fireworks blasting outside from every which way! december 7...burning of the devil, a new tradition that i'll admit i was a bit freighted of at first, but now that i'm safe in my awesome apartment, it's actually pretty awesome.
Burn the Devil, Make Way for Mary
"The tradition of burning the devil began in colonial times. In anticipation of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patron of Guatemala City, those who could afford it adorned the fronts of their houses with lanterns. Eventually, the poor who could not afford such lanterns began gathering their garbage and would burn all of the year's rubbish in front of their houses. Over time it was formalized and in addition to individual piles of garbage, communities started to burn The Devil to clear the way for Mary's feast.
The idea is to burn all of the bad from the previous year and to start anew from the ashes. In cities throughout the country The Devil is burned at the stroke of six. In Ciudad Vieja, the first former capital of the country, a devil three stories tall is constructed and burned in the city square.
Other Latin American countries share similar traditions. Colombia has Años Nuevos. These are life–sized dummies made to represent one's sinful self of the previous year. Often they are portrayed with bulging sex organs, a white nose (for those who struggled with cocaine during the year) and with bottles of liquor in their hands. When the year rolls over, they are doused in gasoline, and the old self brilliantly burns away to make way for the reformed."
yet another crazy guatemalan tradition that we are here to experience!
much love from guate...
Very cool Bear! I have learned something else new today!!!
Love you!
Posted by: stacey | December 07, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Sherri, this is so fun learning about all these new traditions. Wild! I Love!!! Raton Perez, so cute!
Thanks so much for all your posts, it makes you both seem closer, xoxo,Pam
Posted by: Pam | December 09, 2011 at 03:04 AM
The sky seems more blue there...
Posted by: Stacey | December 11, 2011 at 01:03 PM
What's been going on? What are your plans for Christmas? Miss you!
Posted by: stacey | December 16, 2011 at 09:15 PM