Traditional customs in Guatemala

The Republic of Guatemala (Spanish: República de Guatemala) is a presidential republic in Central America located in the southern part of the North American continent. It is also one of the centers of ancient Indian and Mayan culture. The country has a total area of 108889 square kilometers and a population of approximately 16 million (2014 statistics), of which 41% are indigenous Indians, and the rest are descendants of Indo-European mestizo and European immigrants. The capital is Guatemala City, the official language is Spanish, and there are also 23 local languages such as Mayan and Quiché.

Two thirds of Guatemala is mountainous and plateaus. There is the Kuchumatanes Mountains in the west, the Madre Mountains in the south, and the volcanic belt in the west and south with more than 30 volcanoes. Tahumurco Volcano is 4211 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in Central America. Earthquakes are frequent. In the north there are the Petten Lowlands. There are narrow coastal plains on the Pacific coast. Most of the major cities are distributed in the intermountain basins in the south. The lowland plain of Petten in the north is a tropical rainforest, and the volcanoes in the central highlands reach 4200 meters.

Guatemala people are generous and cheerful. They often tap each other on the shoulder among acquaintances. When they talk, they often look at each other enthusiastically and are very close to each other. Therefore, when you go to Guatemala, you should get used to their affectionate behavior.

When meeting guests on social occasions, local men often shake hands. If they are relatives and friends, they can still hug them. As women who meet as friends, they can hug each other gently and kiss each other on the face. If you are invited to a local family, you can prepare a bouquet of flowers or candies as a gift for the host.

If you go to Guatemala to engage in business activities, you must bring a business card with Spanish characters printed on it. When you come into contact with unfamiliar local business people, you can take the initiative to deliver your business card to the other party. If the other party forgets to return the business card for a while, you should take the initiative to ask him, otherwise it will be difficult to contact him afterwards.

Keep in mind that local people have a weak concept of time, so when you encounter delays in doing things, don't complain about others, and don't urge them to speed up. The important thing is to be patient and pay attention to establishing a good relationship with them. Now, the efficiency of local businesses is improving and the pace of negotiations is accelerating. It is particularly important to note that it is best not to discuss business at a local person's home or in front of his family.

The national costumes of Guatemala are very colorful and diverse. The costumes of more than 100 tribes have different wearing methods, patterns and colors. Just by looking at the costumes, you can know the tribe or area where they belong. Many of them like to collect handmade dolls dressed in traditional costumes to satisfy a nostalgic mentality. In addition to decoration, the embroidery on the costumes of men and women also has symbolic meanings, such as feathered snakes and the sun symbolizing the Mayans. It is also possible to distinguish a person's social status, marital status, and whether the clothing is worn daily or festive based on subtle changes in clothing.

Corn, wheat and rice are the main local crops in Guatemala. In terms of diet, they are basically biased towards Western food, preferring to eat bread, sandwiches, etc. Because the local area is rich in coffee, people like to drink coffee very much and drink a cup every day. Most people ask for a cup of coffee for lunch.

Note: Locals eat lunch as their main meal, and dinner usually starts after 8 p.m.

On April 10 every year, the Mayans living in the mountains hold a masquerade ball in the square to worship their ancestors. The traditional kite festival on November 1st every year is also a form of Mayans mourning the dead. This day is also a good time for young men and women to choose a spouse.

The local Chichikastenango people celebrate the Catholic Festival on December 18 every year. During the festival, people come to the square in front of the church to sing wildly. The church is filled with idols of various shapes, surrounded by cigarettes, and people wearing colorful masks to pray.

since that majority of Guatemala's resident are Catholic and a minority Protestant. Therefore, they also avoid 13 and Friday, thinking these numbers are unlucky, and they don't like the number 14.