64 Interesting Facts About Guatemala

Last updated on October 25th, 2022

52. Funeral Traditions: when a person passes away in Guatemala, they are buried in a wooden coffin hours after their death. To prevent the soul of the dead from returning to haunt the village, Guatemalans place the treasured items of the deceased along with them.

53. It is a Guatemalan tradition to fire guns into the sky during the Christmas celebration. Sadly, every year between five and ten people die from falling bullets after the act. Seriously, this tradition is taking a toll.

54. Some famous people who were born in Guatemala include – Oscar Isaac (movie actor), Ricardo Arjona (World music singer), Marco Pappa (Soccer player), Rigoberta Menchu (Novelist), Soluna Somay (Rock singer), Cash Luna (Religious leader) and Hector-Neri Castaneda (Philosopher).

55. Guatemalans celebrate “Dia de los Muertos,” or the Day of the Dead, every November 1^st. On this day, Guatemalans visit the local cemetery and fly kites in memory of their loved ones. People also paint the gravestones of their relatives with bright colors.

Some amazing facts about Guatemala

56. On May 30, 2010, an enormous hole, 60 feet wide and 30 stories deep, opened up in the middle of Guatemala City, swallowing a three-story building and a home. It also caused the death of a man. The reason for the formation of the sinkhole is thought to be the weak material the city is built on – volcano pumice.

57. There are two baths that are built directly over a volcanic vent. You could have a totally natural bath from the rising steam from the bowels of the earth. Are you ready? Note the location – they are in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

58. Maximón, a folk saint venerated in various forms by Maya people of several towns in the highlands of Western Guatemala, is worshiped with careful attention by the locals.

Legend has it that when men left the village to work in the field, Maximón crept into town and slept with their wives.

Guatemalan food facts

59. Food in the region is a result of the Mayan and Spanish influence on the people.

60. Guatemalans consume a lot of corn, beans, and rice, which are served alongside meat and fish.

61. For breakfast, Guatemalans use eggs, spicy salsas and warm tortillas that are usually served with local cheeses.

62. Fruits also form a significant portion of the diets of Guatemalans. They eat fruits like papayas, mangoes, bananas, pineapples, and carambola.

63. Guatemalans eat a meat-heavy diet. Pork and beef is very popular. In some rural regions, chicken is served with the feet still attached.

64. Guatemalans are fond of a spicy stew called ‘topado,’ which is made by combining fish, coconut, banana, and cilantro.

About the Flag of Guatemala

1. Design and Symbolism

Guatemala is a country with a colorful history, starting as the base of the Mayan civilization and becoming the site of a thriving Spanish colonial capital. Tourists flock to its archeological and historical sites.

It is also a land between two oceans, as reflected in its flag design. Two sky blue bands, representing the Pacific and the Atlantic, straddle a white bar with the Guatemalan coat of arms. It is a common theme among countries in Central America.

The coat of arms features a scroll of parchment with the date of independence from the Spanish colonizers: September 15, 1821. The word LIBERTAD (freedom) is also on the parchment.

The national bird, a Resplendent quetzal, sits at the top of the scroll to symbolize freedom and independence. It is a prominent figure in Mesoamerican mythology, associated with an Aztec deity named Quetzalcoatl or Feathered Serpent. He is the god of learning and knowledge. He also controls the sun and the wind.

At the back are two crossed Remington rifles signaling readiness to defend the homeland, if necessary. Two crossed swords reassert this resolve while representing justice and honor. A laurel wreath surrounds the arms to claim victory.

2. Adoption

Guatemala adopted the flag design in 1871. However, the coat of arms at the center underwent a modern makeover in 1968.

3. Technical Details

The flag dimensions follow a ratio of 5:8. The arms occupy roughly one-third of the flag height, while the horizontal bands have the same width. The colors are 297 for Maya Blue and Safe White in the Pantone system. The HEX equivalents are 4997D0 and FFFFFF.

4. History

In the 1500s, Spain conquered the land and made it a colony. Spanish rule continued until the declaration of independence in 1821. Guatemala joined other Central American provinces in forming the Federal Republic. Its flag was a triband with horizontal stripes of blue and white.

The federation did not last long, but Guatemala continued to use its flag until 1851. A pro-Spanish faction took over and inserted red/yellow bands. In 1871, the country reverted to the original colors but changed two crucial elements.

First, the orientation of the bands shifted from horizontal to vertical. It made the flag easier to distinguish when grouped with regional banners. Second, they removed the coat of arms of the Central American republic and put a national coat of arms in its place. Guatemala still uses the design, although the emblem received a modern makeover.

5. Flag Facts

Feather Currency

Aside from appearing on the flag, the national bird also lends its name to the country’s modern currency: the Guatemalan quetzal. It comes from the ancient Mayan practice of using the bird’s impressive green feathers as currency.

Indigenous Flag

In 2008, Guatemala adopted a second official flag called the Bandera de Los Pueblos. It has diagonal quarters forming four triangles: white, black, yellow, and red. Each color represents a group of indigenous people. At the center is a circular Maya symbol called Q’anil, which means “seed.”

Guatemala – country at a glance