Video Of The Week - Guatemala's Giant Kite Festival

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Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated annually on November 1st & 2nd to honor deceased family and friends is enjoyed across Latin America. However the festivities differ in each country. Mexico commemorates the day by offering the departed with their favorite foods, Haiti by playing loud music and drums and Guatemala by flying giant hand-made kites over cemeteries.

The century-old tradition is based on the belief that the kites are able to convey the messages that are tied to their tails to the spirits of the deceased loved ones. Construction of the massive kites begins about 40 days prior to the big day. On November 1st, locals and tourists gather near the country's burial grounds to watch these magnificent structures dot the sky and relay messages until about 4 pm. After that everyone heads home - The tourists to reminisce about the magical day and the locals to await the arrival of the spirit of their loved one.

Resources: telegragh.co.uk, wikipedia.org

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207 Comments
  • :Dabout 9 years
    WOAH COOL THIS IS SO COOL WOWOWOWOWOW
    • :Dabout 9 years
      SUPER COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SO COOL
      • jae88about 9 years
        cool
        • leap411
          leap411over 9 years
          how do these kites get into the air?
          • diamond_ev
            diamond_evover 9 years
            They celebrate the day of the dead in a different tradition because some people might throw fireworks and some give flowers to the people that die an most of the time people just stay home and don't do nothing so I think that people do different things because Mexicans do really cool things white men do fireworks and other things I think because of there skin color. have a good day
            • LKalmost 10 years
              it must have taken a million years
              • isaacb
                isaacbover 10 years
                They celebrate the day of the dead in a different tradition because some people might throw fireworks and some give flowers to the people that die an most of the time people just stay home and don't do nothing so I think that people do different things because Mexicans do really cool things white men do fireworks and other things I think because of there skin color
                • emmaover 10 years
                  it must of taken 8 years to make them
                  • makyla
                    makylaalmost 11 years
                    omg that is so cool
                    • janiahalmost 11 years
                      cool