Local Traditions

Tactic, Guatemala - Sorry for the delay since our last posting. Internet availability has been sporadic since before Christmas.

Around Christmas there is a tradition in this area where families will set up a little nativity scene and village on a table in their houses. Passersby on the street are invited in to look at these ‘nacimientos’ or birth scenes. The church associated with Impact Ministries has a nacimiento as well. The church members put on a drama where the audience moves from set to set and watches the story of Jesus unfold. It is far more spectacular than a nativity scene on a table and more than the audience expects! They call it ‘al gran naciemiento’ or the great birth. There were a total of 6 evenings that the drama was presented, and the final count of attendees was just over 700!

Advertising. There are two common methods of getting your message across the town. This first is radio ads. Okay, that’s fine. The second method is to hire a van with a (really) loudspeaker, and naturally the best time to get any message across is bright and early! The other day we were scared out of our skin when one of these vans drove by at 5:30AM. Not only was there a blaring voice (we live really close to the highway), but they added sirens and they were also setting off firecrackers from the vehicle. What an “exciting” start to the day. None of the foreigners here can understand why the Guatemalans don’t mind. I suppose it is a small price to pay to have no billboards blocking the views of the mountains…(This particular announcement was a bank celebrating its 39th anniversary and all were invited to fireworks that night, which could rival Edmonton’s fireworks!!)

Garbage Day. Twice a week the garbage is collected from our house. There is a cheery tune that rings from the truck that is reminiscent of the ice cream trucks back home. The tune is distinctive, and when we hear it, it’s time to jump out of bed and put the trash out. Even the routine things are still fun.

Market Day. The big market days are twice a week. I love to go and watch people and see what they are selling. Yesterday I was girls carrying huge bundles of calla lilies on their heads to the market. My quest is to find a new kind of fruit each time I go. The trips to the market seem to be humbling experiences. I fumble with the currency (all the coins seem the same), I point and ask if things I can’t identify are fruits. The vendors are always amused to explain to me how to eat a certain fruit. Usually an explanation turns into a demonstration with several giggling onlookers. Everything from veggies, meats, pasta, beans, live chickens, puppies(?!), and rat poison is sold and it never gets old to me.