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Giant Kites of Sumpango Slideshow from Past Tours

9/29/2013

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I've gathered together some photos from the three day Giant Kite Cultural Tour that I led with master kitemaker, Julio Asturius in 2011 and 2012 in the Kaqchikel Maya pueblo of Sumpango over the Day of the Dead.
The tradition of los barriletes gigantes began when the pueblo was plagued by misfortune.  In consulting the local brujos, the town was advised to make kites and that  the sound of the wind rustling the fringe, those trailing paper flechas on the edges of the kite, the evil spirits would be frightened away and not bother the town.  Since then the kites have become bigger and more innovative in form, combining ancient Maya cosmology with contemporary messages.  Over 600 people in Sumpango work every night for over four months making these kites from tissue paper and glue.  Kites smaller than 6 meters are flown in an afternoon competition.  For the larger kites, the challenge is to successfully mount these delicate and enormous designs on a lattice of bamboo.

Of course our own efforts at kitemaking were more modest, but satisfying nonethess.  Followed by a private Mayan shamanic ceremony with Sumpango nana ,Delphina.

Like many other towns throughout Latin America, Sumpango also celebrates Dia de los Muertos by cleaning and decorating the cemetary with flowers.  On November 2, families spend the day together at the cemetaries, preparing lunch there, remembering the ancestors and of course, flying kites.

Join us this year and see what the kitemakers have in store for 2013!
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    Louise "Luisa" Wisechild, PhD

    I first visited Guatemala in 1995  as a member of the Vashon Island sister city delgation to Santiago de Atitlan, Guatemala.
    I been living in Guatemala since 2011.   I didn't intend to stay  -- my idea was to develop tours in numerous countries.  But I fell in love with Guatemala --  where every day I learn something new or see something I have not seen before.  Guatemala is a land of diverse natural beauty.  Living in a Kachikel Maya pueblo, which is also a gathering spot for international budget travelers, makes this a rare and fascinating residence.    My  curiosity and my heart  are engaged here every day, in my relationships.   .  I enjoy  speaking spanish with friends, and learning more about the Maya culture, giving tarot readings in Spanish and also singing my growing  repertoire of  Spanish songs. 
    I am a  lifelong independent traveler and group leader.  As a graduate student in interpersonal communication and the creative arts, I  led tours to Oaxaca, Mexico for the Day of the Dead and co-facilitated a tour to the goddess sites of Mexico with Global Awareness through Experience.  I have  been fortunate to visit Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Bali, Thailand, Australia, Europe, Canada and  the US.   Bit by bit, I will go global again, but Latin America is so enchanting. . . .

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