Mardis Gras, Guatemalan-style

Living in Latin America means learning a lot about the Catholic religion, as it is the predominant religion. There are many traditions and Catholic holidays that shut down stores and streets and offices.

Last week was the beginning of Lent. In the States the types of people who participate in sacrificing or giving up something for Lent vary. Many are from the Catholic tradition. Others might be Protestant or not affiliated with any denomination or church. I didn’t grow up practicing Lent or having an awareness of it, but I’ve come to appreciate the idea of making an effort to give up something to grow spiritually or otherwise. Some people use Lent as a way to lose weight (cut out sugar, desserts, etc.), which I’ve been guilty of, and not the intended purpose. Others use it as a way to create space for family, away from Facebook or social media. Traditionally, in the Catholic church, and here in Guatemala, most people will refrain from eating meat during the week as their Lenten sacrifice. Regardless, I think it's a good practice in self-discipline.

The festivities here in Guatemala began last week on Monday. At school, the girls decorated cascarones. These are egg shells that have been very carefully emptied and cleaned, and then are painted and filled with confetti-type paper and sealed shut with tissue paper. When these are thrown on the ground, they explode into a cloud of color and confetti. 

I thought these were unique to Guatemala, but from what I've read they are also very popular in Mexico. They originated when the Spanish came to Latin America in the time of Christopher Columbus.

Fat Tuesday is known as Dia del Carnaval in Latin America. Every country has its own version of traditions. Here, it’s a day where kids have a party, dress up in costumes (like on Halloween) and throw the cascarones. There are often parades in the main city centers. The idea with Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or Carnaval, is to celebrate and do all the crazy, wild things that will be abstained from during the lenten season. Breaking these is part of those festivities.

I didn't know exactly how much to dress up the girls, but Ellie decided she wanted 5 ponytails for school. It wasn't until I took the girls to school that I realized just how dressed up her friends and teachers were for this special occasion. Another cultural tradition that I learned about a little too late. At least I know for next year. 

Hazel's teacher loves to do her hair. For this special occasion she made her hair into a braided heart. 

Our elderly neighbor in our first apartment spent all year making cascarones to sell on the streets during these holidays. There would be trays of empty, white, carefully cracked egg shells lining the wall in the garage and she would spend her free time painting and filling them, all year long. As soon as the festivities are over, she stars collecting them and getting ready for the next year. 

She gave the girls a bag of them, which we had been saving, so when they each brought one egg from school we decided to throw them as intended. 

We went up to the second floor patio of our neighbor's house, and threw them below. 

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is known as Semana Santa (Holy Week) and from what I hear, it's a time of lots of people and celebrations and parades. We look forward to experiencing it this year, as last year we arrived to Guatemala just a few weeks too late. 

Happy Lent!