Guatemala has a total of 340 towns, and almost every single one hosts an annual festival! Before we get into what happens during a feriado (festival), let me give you a bit of background. In Guatemala, each town has a patron saint (or protecting saint) from the Catholic Church, and the towns throw feriados (festivals) to honor them. These festivals mix religious ceremonies with fun, local activities to celebrate. The people living in the towns thank their patron saint for bringing them good fortune, keeping them safe and helping with their harvests (the food they were able to grow on their lands). The celebrations for the patron saint include ceremonies, parades, music shows, dances, fairs, kids' activities, sometimes bullfights and always amusement rides.
When my host family first mentioned feriados (festivals), I initially thought they would last about a week. However, I was surprised to learn that they actually extend for nearly a whole month! This is because the festival is packed with so many activities that it's almost impossible to fit them all into just one week. The first indication that the feriado (festival) was approaching was the sight of trucks arriving in town with various carnival rides and games.
