As October turns to November, Guatemala enters a season of remembrance. Flowers brighten cemeteries, families gather to honor loved ones, and colorful kites rise into the sky. For visitors, it is a beautiful opportunity to understand how communities here stay connected with those who have passed.
Three observances fall across these days. Although their names and traditions sometimes overlap, each has its own meaning.
October 31: All Hallows’ Eve
Halloween takes its name from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day. Visitors may come across costumes and parties in Guatemala, though more often communities are preparing for the upcoming days of remembrance.
November 1: All Saints’ Day
In the Christian calendar, All Saints’ Day honors all the saints in heaven. In Guatemala, November 1 is a major day for remembering family members and friends who have died. Families visit cemeteries, tend graves, and decorate them with flowers. These gatherings can hold both sadness and joy: a time to remember, share stories, and feel connected across generations.
Fiambre and seasonal foods
Food is an essential part of the season. Many families share fiambre, a traditional cold dish of vegetables, pickled ingredients, meats, and cheeses, with recipes varying from household to household. Seasonal sweets include ayote en dulce, squash cooked in a sweet syrup.
The giant kites of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez
Among Guatemala’s most striking traditions are barriletes gigantes, giant kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango. Created over many months, these intricate works of art carry community stories and messages. Their spiritual meaning includes connecting with ancestors, warding off negative spirits, and welcoming renewal.
November 2: All Souls’ Day
November 2 is dedicated to remembering and praying for the departed. Often called Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, it continues the season’s focus on love, memory, and the bonds between the living and those who have died. In Guatemala, cemetery visits and family observances may take place on either November 1 or 2, depending on local and family traditions.
Visiting respectfully
Customs vary across Guatemala, and each community brings its own history and meaning to these days. If you visit a cemetery or attend a celebration, approach it as a guest. Follow local guidance, give families space, and ask before photographing people or their observances.
Remembering two of Sumaya’s founding friends
Here at Villa Sumaya, this season invites us to pause with gratitude for the teachers, friends, and loved ones who have shaped our lives. Now in our third decade as a retreat center, we hold two of Sumaya’s dearest friends, Rama and Kirsten, especially close to our hearts. Their generosity, teachings, and friendship helped lay the foundation for the community we are today.
Remembering Rama, our Feldenkrais teacher
Our dear friend Rama graced our shores for nearly two decades with his Feldenkrais classes and bodywork sessions. He transformed the way many of us understood movement, teaching us to become stronger, freer, and more flexible through gentle attention rather than exertion or strain.
His lessons became part of everyday life: in how we walked, reached, rested, and listened to ourselves. He taught us the importance of letting go to grow.
A cherished family friend, Rama shared countless meals with us and offered steady support through Sumaya’s sometimes rocky beginnings. Colorful and quietly protective, he brought a profound sense of peace and a passion for thoughtful exploration of the inner self. We felt safe and seen in his presence.
Rama passed away in 2024. We miss him deeply and carry his teachings in the simplest movements of our days.
Remembering Kirsten, our teacher and healer
Our beloved teacher and healer Kirsten helped establish the foundation for energy work at Sumaya, generously sharing her knowledge with staff and clients.
She was the most humble, selfless healer I have known. As her student and friend, I learned alongside her and received hundreds of sessions over our years together. Sometimes she worked from early morning until nine or ten at night. Afterward, we would reflect on the day’s sessions before she began her long walk home.
Although Kirsten spent only six months of each year here, her dedication to those around her was unwavering. One memory captures her generosity: she would lovingly give a 100-quetzal bill to every member of our team, from the grounds crew to the kitchen. Though this was often a considerable expense for her, making each person feel appreciated was essential.
Like Rama, she shared our family’s table and supported us through Sumaya’s early years. Since her passing in 2019, her care continues through the many people she supported and taught.
Carrying their gifts forward
Rama and Kirsten belong among Sumaya’s founding mothers and fathers, those whose love and contributions gave this place its character and depth. We honor them by continuing to make space for rest, discovery, friendship, and healing.
May this November offer you a moment to remember someone whose wisdom still accompanies you, to rest in what sustains you, and to welcome renewal at your own pace. Wherever you are, you might share a story or simply carry their kindness into your day.
