All the colors of the rainbow: cheerful cemeteries in Guatemala
All the colors of the rainbow: cheerful cemeteries in Guatemala

Video: All the colors of the rainbow: cheerful cemeteries in Guatemala

Video: All the colors of the rainbow: cheerful cemeteries in Guatemala
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Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala

Gravestones of all colors of the rainbow and colorful crosses - this is what cemeteries look like in Guatemala … And this is not an act of vandalism, but a manifestation of care for the deceased.

Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala

Black, white and red are the traditional mourning colors of different peoples of the world. But the inhabitants of Guatemala, with their inherent love for bright colors, do not limit themselves to such conventions: for them, death is like a holiday, and, therefore, the burial place must be “decorated” in accordance with the tastes of the deceased. Burials in this country are more like an amusement park than the usual cemeteries.

Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala

Friends and family members of the deceased are usually involved in painting the grave. Cemeteries such as Solola, Chichicastenango and Xela have even become tourist attractions, as you won't see anything like this anywhere else in the world. No manifestations of sorrow - sheer joy and bright thoughts.

Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala

Guatemalans come to the cemetery on November 1, All Saints Day (also called the Day of the Dead) to honor the memory of those who are no longer with them. As a rule, they dress smartly, spend the whole day at the graves, clean, wash, decorate with flowers, pray and arrange ritual dinners. Another unusual tradition is the launch of giant kites, on the "wings" of which are written appeals to the dead, Guatemalans are sure that the kites soaring in the sky will certainly deliver messages to the addressees.

Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala
Colorful graves in a cemetery in Guatemala

In Guatemala, not only cemeteries are full of bright colors: resourceful locals, trying to diversify their lives, paint public transport, turning regular buses into "chicken buses", and on Easter spread on the streets sand and sawdust carpets.

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