In this book, I shared the most popular traditions and holidays in Guatemalan culture. The story will take place in the Aldea El Quetzal, in the state of Huehuetenango.

One of the most important holidays in El Quetzal is the celebration of New Year Eve. It is unique because that date we start a new journey to reach our dreams. My family and I gather together to cook food for everybody. We also buy gifts for our relatives and friends. 

One of the most traditional food we eat during holidays is tortillas. 

Tortillas are easy to make. I am going to explain it to you on the next page.

What type of food do you cook?

We make tamales and tortillas with our own hands.

Directions:



First, mix the cornflour with the water and salt.

Second, make a small ball with the dough.

Third, shape the dough by hand, by “clapping” it. Clap the mixture until the tortilla is flat, thin, and circular in shape. 

Fourth, Cook both sides of tortillas in a skillet. Cook until the tortilla is golden-brown.

Fifth, place the tortilla and serve it with cheese or meat. 

Enjoy!

Another important celebration in my country is the Day of the Virgen of Candelaria. We celebrate the Candelaria by praying and singing at church. 

This celebration is significant to my family because we are very devoted Christians. 

In Guatemala, we appreciate the blessing of water. 

So, in March, my family celebrates the day of the drinking water. 

It is a day when people must thank God for the benefits of drinking water. 

Religion is essential to Guatemalan. We celebrate many Catholic saints. One of them is San Jose. We celebrate Dia De San Jose on March 19. 

All Guatemalan love this celebration because we can see many people walking on the streets and holding candles and flowers for San Jose. 

Women wear a white scarf around their head. Men walk the streets carrying a statue of San Jose on their shoulder. The whole activity finishes with a mass, celebrated by the local priest..   

The month of May is one of my favorite months.

I like it because in May we celebrate the day or our municipality, Santa Cruz Barillas.

Santa Cruz Barillas is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. 

I missed everything in Santa Cruz Barillas. Its beautiful houses, its friendly cowboys, and its pretty girls. 

The food cooked by the ladies from Santa Cruz Barillas is something out of this world. I especially missed the Mayan turkey soup with chile peppers. 

For all of those reasons, there is no place in the world like Santa Cruz Barillas.