GENERAL ASPECTS:

Santiago Sacatepéquez, a town pertaining to the Department of Sacatepéquez, located at 34 kilometers from the capital, on the Inter American route, celebrates its major feast on July 25 every year, in honor of Santiago Apóstol. It has the category of town, with a 15 sqm surface, at 2,040 m height above sea level, with a population recently estimated in 15, 482 inhabitants, 85% of total population corresponds to the cakchique etnia.

HISTORICAL ASPECT:

A legend that still exists at present tells us that many years ago, All Soul’s Day was invaded by bad spirits that disturbed calmness at the Cementery and people’s houses, mainly in the homes were they had lived; on account of this abstract saying, inhabitants of those times, closely tied to their idiosyncrasy, decided to raise paper scraps into the air, with the purpose of and as a means to send bad spirits away and, at the same time, to cheer up the stay of the beloved ones who have already departed without return, to make them spokesmen between the quick and dead; that, of course, the ideal place for this practice had to be the town Cementery, that’s their origin.

At present, Giant kites, which keep their roots in Santiago Sacatepéquez, are built with fineness, devotion and meticulousness, combining a vast mix of craftsmanship, color and tradition, and revealing a set of habits, folklore and particular expressions of the Guatemalan art.

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS:

The Guatemalan architect, Mario Chacón Polanco (year 1980), carried out a research study about giant kites from Santiago Scatepéquez, under the title: LOS BARRILETES GIGANTES DE SANTIAGO SACATEPEQUEZ, UNA APROXIMACION HISTORICA, SOCIAL Y ARTISTICA, taking as a source for his research works done by well-known historians, such as:

1. Roberto Díaz Castillo: Folklore y artes populares, (Guatemala: Centro de estudios folklore, 1968). Artes y artesanía popular de Sacatepéquez. (Guatemala: Centro de estudios folklórico de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala 1976).

2. Hector Abraham Pinto: Los Barriletes de Santiago Sacatepéquez, in Tradiciones de Guatemala, No. 7 (Guatemala: Centro de Estudios Folklóricos de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 1977).

3. Hipólito Taine: La naturaleza de la obra de arte Colección 70). Mexico. Editorial Grijalbo, 1969).

4. Ida Breme de Santos: Artesanías de Guatemala (apuntes). Guatemala: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Facultad de Humanidades, 1971.

Other sources:

a)Archivo de la Hemeroteca Nacional de Guatemala

b)Informantes:
1. Rigoberto Xoc. Santiago Sacatepéquez, 1980.

2. Cura párroco de Santiago Sacatepéquez, 1980.

3. Hector Ral Tejeda Jiménez. Santiago Sacatepéquez, 1980.

In the introduction of his research, the author says: On occasion of All Soul’s Day celebration (November 1st.), in Guatemala, at Santiago Sacatepéquez, a town from the department of Sacatepéquez, an extraordinary popular celebration takes place.

A unique activity in its genre: It is a ‘giant kiteflying’, devices made out of cane and China paper, which at great height challenge the strong Northern winds, typical during that part of the year in Guatemala. This traditional artistic expression is really amazing and invaluable as well.

The research we’re hereby presenting has given us the opportunity to express our admiration for this traditional phenomenon as well as to contribute to the diffusion of this art, and, therefore, help to its preservation and self-development.

The author analyzed the phenomenon of the giant kites from Santiago considering three perspectives: the historical, social and artistic ones.

At the end of his research, he outlines the following

CONCLUSIONS:

Regarding their ORIGIN: Kites appeaed in Santiago Sacatepéquez at the beginning of the century (referring to the one that has just finished), in small dimensions, we couldn’t determine the exact date. Giant kites appeared around 1940, and the period during which they became bigger was between 1940 and 1945.

With regards to the MEANING: it’s worth mentioning the explanation that attributes the phenomenon a magic idea. It must be considered as a means of expression, as an artistic object of the traditional type. The motif design used in the kites by no means responds to a symbolism that makes us suppose that they are a way or a means of communication between the quick and the dead. It must be considered that those designs in the past were inspired in the Indian weaves whose significances are known and ultimately respond to the presentation of the environment; the civic or nationalistic characteristics are added to them, as mentioned before.

Reported by Mario Roberto Chacón Polanco (Architect Chacón Polanco’s work was presented in the Latin American Contest called Panamá University Prize, promoted by the Department of Artistic Expressions from the Panamá National University, Panamá, January, 1981. It participated in the essay genre and obtained an honorific mention).

Through the work of Architect Chacón Polanco, the members of the organizing Association, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Institute of Antropology and History and San Carlos University, conducted and deepened this subject exhaustingly. Research conducted in 1999, made use not only of the above-mentioned documents, but also of other ones, namely:

1. Guillermo Alfredo Vásquez González. (1992). LOS AÑOS DE ESTUDIOS PARA UNA INTERPRETACIÓN SIMBÓLICA DE LOS BARRILETES GIGANTES DE SANTIAGO SACATEPEQUEZ. Escuela de Historia USAC-.
2. ————————–, (1978). Major worldwide events of the year. MENSAJEROS VOLADORES DE GUATEMALA. Giant kites from Santiago Sacatepéquez. México D.F.

As a result of the research, it was obtained the following info: they were originated in the picturesque Santiago Sacatepéquez town at the beginning of last century, they are part of people’s idiosyncrasy, they must have a popular nature, collective, native and traditional, and, finally, they must fulfill a function.

Bearing in mind those aspects, the Ministry of Culture and Sports declared it CULTURAL PATRIMONY OF GUATEMALA, through the ministerial agreement #654-99, which expresses the following: THE GIANT KITE FAIR OF SANTIAGO SACATEPEQUEZ, IS A PIONEER CELEBRATION HAVING OVER A CENTURY OF HISTORY, GREATLY PROPAGATED AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCOPE, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE GUATEMALAN ART, SO IT IS CONSIDERED CULTURAL PATRIMONY OF GUATEMALA.

As part of its contribution to foster scientific, cultural and artistic skills, the San Carlos University of Guatemala granted the town of Santiago Sacatepéquez, in that same year, an honorific acknowledgement for its outstanding worldwide projection and for having more than a century of history.

Today, the inhabitants of Santiago Sacatepéquez show great satisfaction for the recent inclusion of neighboring towns from the region in the making of these giant hues, admired all over the world.

CONTEST: In order to stimulate participation and enhance the youngster’s artistic skills, it is currently being conducted a contest at local level, dividing the competition into 4 categories. This contest is carried out through a board of JUDGES formed by expert people, who are in charge of selecting the best exhibitors in each category; winners are awarded medals, trophies and diplomas, as well as cash money.

CATEGORY A: Exhibition Category
CATEGORY B: Flying Category
CATEGORY C: Female Category
CATEGORY D: Children Category

In every category, aspects such as design, color, size, message, typical customs, aesthetics and originality, among others, are evaluated.

WHO ORGANIZE THE EVENT? At present, the event is organized by the ASOCIACION SANTIAGUENSE PARA EL DESARROLLO CULTURAL –ASOSDEC-, an entity that promotes, organizes and executes the event at national and international level, with the support and sponsorship of friendly companies that love and back the Guatemalan art.

This body is empowered to promote activities related to art, music and other specific expressions, not having political, religious or any other particular interest. It’s been promoting, for more than 9 years, this activity among youngsters, professionals and non-professionals conscious about its importance for stimulating tourism.

APPROXIMATED DATA ABOUT THIS EVENT AUDIENCE:

Every year, there’re a countless number of local and foreign tourists attending this event the last days of October and first days of November, interested in exploring a world full of imagination and to learn about the villagers’ mystery, magic and artistic talent. Several media reporters, coming from every part of the world, meet to get shots and gather all the information before any interview. Here are some approximated data regarding visitors:

National Visitors: 60,000

International Visitors: 15,000

Local Population: 13,000