Heritage news
Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Traditions of Chichicastenango

A Maya highland town whose market and Santo Tomás church mix Catholic and K'iche' ritual.

Chichicastenango sits in the Guatemalan highlands in the land of the K'iche' Maya. On Thursdays and Sundays, it hosts one of the largest markets in Central America, with weavers, flower sellers and healers. On the church steps of Santo Tomás, shamans burn incense and offer prayers in K'iche'.

Chichicastenango: Chichicastenango, Guatemala - March 2018: Morning at Chichicastenango's market.
Photo: Toby Argüelles, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market and incense

On the steps of the church, K'iche' priests, or aj q'ij, swing censers of copal and speak prayers for the dead and the living, using the Maya calendar. Cofradías, religious brotherhoods, carry saints in procession, and the Palo Volador, a ritual in which men are lowered from a tall pole, is performed at the December festival.

At the table

Maya cooking uses corn in tortillas, tamales and atol, and black beans and chile. Pulique, a meat stew, and kak'ik, a turkey soup, are found in the highlands. Rosa de Jamaica, a hibiscus drink, and chocolate are served. Women make tortillas by hand on a comal.

Signature traditions of Chichicastenango

Also part of it, and being written: Palo volador (The pole ritual.), K'iche' people (The people.), Copal (The incense.).

A trail idea for Chichicastenango

  1. Santo Tomás Church See the steps.
  2. Market Visit on a Thursday.
  3. Pascual Abaj A shrine on a hill.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇲🇽 Papantla, Mexico and 1 moreDanza de los Voladores A Mesoamerican rite of dance and rope, flown from a tall pole to ask for rainSpiritual

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.