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After reading a post on the Big List I thought it might be beneficial to put a calendar of major holidays that usually close government offices in the city.
May 1: Labor Day.
Jun 30: Army Day.
Aug 15: Assumption (Guatemala City only).
Sep 15: Independence Day.
Oct 12: Dia de la Raza
Oct 20: Revolution Day.
Nov 1: All Saints’ Day.
Dec 24: Christmas Eve (afternoon only).
Dec 25: Christmas Day.
Dec 31: New Year’s Eve (afternoon only).
This of course is a list of holidays from this point on in the year 2006. They are known as bank holidays. While some indicate “afternoon only” most government offices do not work or are barely functional during these periods.
Labor Day is usually a fun day where people get away with their families much like we do here in the states.
Army Day is pretty cool as well. Click Here for a photo of paratroopers marching in Guatemala City on Army day. This is really cool to see if you are there.
Independence Day-You don’t have to travel far to get “real” firecrackers here! Oh man get your heart prepared to hear the pops and the bangs all over the country in the weeks leading up to Independence Day. Cars flying the Guatemalan Flag, Buildings with the flag draped out of the windows, merchants selling flags to gringos 
The week before Independence Day, there was a huge band competition in Antigua. The parade started early in the morning and all bands finally met in Parque Central and competed. It was incredible.
Dia de la Raza or Day of the Race – As found on www.wcities.com This is a somewhat conflicted holiday in Guatemala as in much of Latin America. Some celebrate Columbus’s discovery of the Americas. Others celebrate the survival of indigenous cultures in spite of that discovery and the European conquest that followed it. The designation Dia de la Raza or “Day of the Race,” namely a race mixed of colonial and indigenous elements, represents this duality. Celebrations in Guatemala City, centering around the Plaza Mayor, may meet protests. Such meetings, while most often peaceable, do warrant caution.
Revolution Day – Read the great article Kevin posted on Guatadopt by clicking here
All Saints Day This article was found on Topics-Mag. I would think calling a cemetery a happy place would be kind of strange until I visited one in Guatemala. Many wedding photos are taken there. Kristina and I took our Easter photos there in 2005. It is a wonderful place. What a joyful celebration.
Click Here to visit the article at Topics-Mag
Celebrating All Saints’ Day
Vera Melendez from El Salvador
Santiago Sacatepequez is located just 40 minutes from Guatemala city. On November 2nd, All Saints’ Day, this town celebrates a festival with giant kites. This celebration is realized in the cemetery of the town. I always thought that the cemetery is a place where the people felt sad, but I changed my mind when I visited the cemetery of Santiago, Sacatepequez.
I had heard about this town many times, but really I never felt curious to visit it. However, when I was studying at the university and attending a photography course, for homework our teacher had us take a picture of a giant kite of Santiago Sacatepequez. Then my classmates and I decided to go to Santiago, Sacatepequez.
What an amazing festival we found. All the town was a party and hundreds of people were walking in the town. We saw vendors’ stands with many things—flowers, food, beverages, candies, and more. When we arrived at the cemetery, all the people were walking around, and we saw a lot of giants kites with beautiful designs.
According to their tradition, the kites are flown to raise the souls of the dead to Heaven and to turn away evil spirits. The inhabitants of Santiago, Sacatepequez believe that on November 2nd they can communicate with their dead and send good messages. For this reason, they design beautiful kites with many colors to communicate messages of happiness. Also, on this day a group of people called the Jury, select the best kite design and give a prize to the winning family.
This tradition is unique and special because on this day nobody is sad. Instead, all the people are happy, and the time that they share is a good time for all the family and for visitors.
