DIA DE MUERTOS-SANTO DOMINGO XENACOJ

Traditionally on October 31st the indigenous people of Guatemala honor their dead by visiting family cemeteries.  This is the famous "Dia de Muertos" referenced in the popular film "Coco". 

We met our friend and guide, Manuel, in Antigua, and traveled to Santo Domingo Xenacoj.  The town square was beautiful with tile work everywhere, a large fountain in the middle and a Catholic church.

In Guatemala Catholic and Mayan traditions are intermingled so it's always interesting to see how these are manifested in each church we visit.  Below in two outside niches are two figures of the underworld who are holding up (supporting) the church building.  Lots of symbolism here.

These two figures inside the church are supporting an altar honoring Mary.  They are original to the church which dates to the 1500's.  Unlike so many other stone structures, this building has never been damaged by an earthquake.

Some of the original plasterwork.  Flowers and vines are common motifs.

Walking toward the cemetery we encountered people with arm loads of flowers. It seemed that everyone was carrying some kind of bundle.  Men had flat headed shovels over their shoulders and were wearing typical straw hats to cover their heads from the bright sun.

Manuel greeted two farmers who were on their way to the cemetery to sell yellow flowers,  flores silvestres (wild flowers) which are almost always marigolds (English) to families who will place them on the graves.  These flowers grow wild in the mountains or can be cultivated by the farmers for this special day of the year.  The wild ones are especially prized.  They are commonly known as "flores de muertos."  They have a musty fragrance, not at all floral, and Manuel told us this is part of the rationale for naming them flor de muertos. 

Many people were already inside the gates, pulling weeds, raking and painting their family tombs and generally happy to be there.  It was a family affair...even the little ones were helping as best they could or playing among the tombs and stones.

This man is touching up the red on the crypt.  Empty paint cans were everywhere.

Some graves are simple mounds that the men tap down with their shovels.  Women then cover the graves with a soft carpet of fresh pine needles and wild flores de muertos.

This family is touching up a soccer field on the top of the tomb of their ancestor who was a famous soccer player or futbolista.

Having taken care of their ancestors' graves, this couple is leaving.  The senora is making the sign of the cross in front of a stone slab where bodies of the deceased rest for a short time before being interred.  It was empty the day we passed through.