Every year on December 7th the Guatemalans celebrate La Quema del Diablo. Popular legends in Guatemala say that the devil hides under the beds and in the corners of people's homes bringing bad luck. In order to rid their homes of the devil, Guatemalan natives gather old boxes and trash and burn them in front of their homes (some people also burn Satan statues). Another means of celebration is by way of jumping over the bonfires. Still others use pinatas as well; after the pinata is broken it is thrown into the bonfire.
When locals are done burning the trash and devil statues, they thoroughly clean their homes with a straw broom and use holy water in order to deter evil spirits for the entire year.
La Quema del Diablo is part of the Christmas festivities in Guatemala, which begin with Advent. During Advent men dress up as devils and chase children in the streets. After Advent is over, La Quema del Diablo is celebrated to prepare for Fiesta de La Virgen de Inmaculada Concepción and the new year.
Although this is an extremely popular celebration rooted in tradition, it at times faces a bit of criticism. Some people think that the celebration of La Quema del Diablo should be modified because the burning of trash creates a great amount of toxins and is harmful to the environment. A few others harbor mixed feelings about the festivities of La Quema del Diablo because they view it as more of a pagan ritual than a Christian one.
1 comment:
Tkach Stefania
La quema del dialo came from Spain since colonial times. This event started as a good house cleaning, which symbolized the elimination of evil and old past events.
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