Guatemalan Culture
Guatemala is the largest country in Central America; although, it is no bigger than Tennessee. It is so beautiful that it takes your breath away. It is nestled between Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador by land, and is also bordered by both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is spectacular and there is an abundance of wonderful sights to see. Some of the interesting tourist attractions include visiting the Mayan ruins, taking a tour through the lush jungles of the rain forest, hiking to the top of a volcano, or just relaxing on one of the many miles of uninhabited beaches that Guatemala offers.
The Chichicaslenango Market is filled with an array of colors, crafts, arts, smells, and definitely a must-see place. Many crafts and cultural things can be found here. This is the spot to purchase hand-woven brightly colored long skirts and shirts, which is the traditional style of the Guatemalan women. The men also wear hand-woven colored pants; however, the colors are not always as intense. Some men will wear a tight skirt that wraps around and over their pants. This skirt almost resembles a kilt. In addition, the men wear colorful button up shirts, which is the traditional Guatemalan dress and can be tied back to the Mayan influence.
The customs and history of the Guatemala people date back to the ancient Mayan times and although many of the practices have been updated to more modern times, their lives are still centered on the social cultural events known as folklore. Today, many different ethnic groups claim their origins can be traced back to the Maya, which is about half of the population. The other half is comprised of Mestizos and Afro-Caribbean blacks.
The majority of Guatemalan traditions carry a spiritual aspect including Holy Week in Guatemala City and Antigua, Guatemala. Major affairs are the Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe as well as the celebration of the Corpus Christi in the city of Patzun. The Corpus Christi celebration takes place in June and is a dazzling display of arches and colorful carpets and costumes.
Religion, Language, and Education in Guatemala
There are three main religions in Guatemala and the most dominate is the Roman Catholic Church. There are some protestant religions, and still even fewer indigenous religions, but they do exist. There is another small group of people who still practice the old ancient Mayan beliefs.
Spanish is the official language in Guatemala; although, there are about 31 Mayan groups that have kept their ancient ancestral languages alive today. English is spoken in the highly tourist areas.
Unfortunately, education in Guatemala is at an extremely low standard and has the lowest literacy rate in all of Central America. The average age for school completion is around 15 years. The literacy rate overall is only about 69%, and it is even lower for women at only 62%. It appears that education is mostly for the privileged few and not for the average citizen.
Things to Do or Not Do while in Guatemala
As you visit a country, there are things that tourists or visitors should or should not do. It’s always best to familiarize yourself with some of these customs and practices.
For instance, when making a fist, you should never put your thumb between your middle and index fingers. This is considered a very obscene gesture and very disrespectful. When in public, keep your voice down as talking loud is considered rude.
When addressing people always use their professional titles if applicable – it is a sign of respect for the other person. In a business setting, if you are handing out cards, it’s best to have them translated into Spanish. It’s appropriate and best to present the card with the Spanish side facing the receiving person.
Remember that Guatemalans place a high value on relationships in social situations rather than on adherence of time and schedules. Don’t be offended if a person is not always on time as this is part of the culture.
Overall, Guatemala is a beautiful and wondrous land with welcoming people. It can be adventurous as there is a lot to explore and experience. There are vast mountainous landscapes, lakes, volcanoes, jungles, beaches, and cities rich with culture just waiting for people to come see.
