A Colorful Evening of Culture at the Consulate General of Guatemala in Las Vegas
- Isabelle Karamooz
- Nov 10, 2025
- 4 min read
On the evening of October 30th, I had the honor of attending a vibrant and deeply meaningful cultural celebration hosted at the Consulate General of Guatemala in Las Vegas. The reception, graciously led by Vice Consul Alan Escobedo and his team, brought together members of the Guatemalan community, cultural representatives, local leaders, and invited guests for a night centered around one of Guatemala’s most cherished traditions: the Festival of the Giant Kites (Festival de Barriletes Gigantes) of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez.
Rooted in Memory and Tradition
Each year on November 1st, Guatemala celebrates Día de Todos Los Santos (All Saints’ Day), a moment dedicated to remembrance, continuity, and honoring ancestors. In the highlands of Sacatepéquez, this remembrance unfolds in an extraordinary visual and spiritual tradition: the creation and exhibition of giant, hand-made kites, some reaching 7 to 20 meters in height.
These monumental kites—crafted meticulously from bamboo, natural fiber ropes, and brilliantly colored tissue paper—are not merely decorative. They are vessels of memory, carrying messages to loved ones who have passed away, and expressions of communal identity. Many display themes of peace, respect for nature, indigenous rights, and the enduring connection between generations.
This tradition is centuries old. While the use of kites can be traced back more than 2,000 years to China, their adaptation into Guatemalan remembrance rituals dates to the late 18th century, where Maya spiritual customs and Catholic observance intertwined to honor the departed. In December 2024, the “Technique of Making the Giant Kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango, Guatemala” was officially inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its global cultural importance.
A Cultural Salon in Las Vegas
For one evening, the Consulate General’s space became an artistic and emotional bridge to Guatemala. Photographs of the giant kites—unfolding like luminous mandalas—were displayed on screens, while the ceilings and walls were adorned with Guatemalan textiles and miniature kite models. Conversations were warm, intimate, and reflective, with guests seeking to understand both the spectacle and the underlying meaning of the tradition.
Photos: French Quarter Magazine
The culinary tasting, offered in collaboration with the renowned Guatemalteco Chef Luis del Cid, added a second layer of richness. Guests enjoyed traditional foods such as fiambre, a layered and colorful salad traditionally prepared for All Saints’ Day, alongside corn-based drinks and torrejas seasoned with regional spices. In this atmosphere, food served not just as sustenance but as a medium of cultural storytelling.
Photos: French Quarter Magazine
The Art and Craftsmanship of the Kites
The making of each barrilete is a community endeavor rooted in collaboration and shared identity. The process involves:
The Frame – Constructed from bamboo, tied by hand in a ritual process known as La Luna del Barrilete (The Kite Moon), traditionally performed the night before the festival.
The Wings and Tissue Mosaic – Created from vividly colored tissue paper whose translucence allows sunlight to illuminate the designs.
The Buzzer (Zumbador) – A small piece that creates a resonant sound in the wind, believed to guide ancestral spirits.
The Tail (Patzunga) – Made from leftover textiles, providing balance and symbolic grounding.
This communal act embodies the philosophy found in the Popol Vuh, the sacred Maya text: “That no one is left behind; everyone participates so that all may succeed.”
A Celebration of Identity and Connection
Guatemala is a country of profound cultural richness. With over 18 million inhabitants, a landscape of lush forests and volcanic highlands, and 22 recognized languages—including Spanish, Garífuna, Xinca, and 21 Maya languages—its identity is deeply plural.
Nearly 44% of the population descends from the Maya, making Guatemala home to the largest Indigenous population in the Americas. The Festival of the Giant Kites is not only a remembrance ritual—it is a living expression of this heritage and diversity.
Carrying Heritage Forward
For the audience of French Quarter Magazine, this evening highlighted the power of cultural diplomacy: the ability of tradition to create dialogue, empathy, and community across borders. To bring the winds of Sumpango to the wide sky of Las Vegas is to remind us that heritage does not fade when distance grows—it adapts, travels, and continues.
I extend heartfelt thanks to Vice Consul Alan Escobedo as well as the Consulate General of Guatemala in Las Vegas for hosting this immersive celebration and for their commitment to sharing the cultural legacy of Guatemala with the world.
May the barriletes continue to rise—linking past and present, earth and sky, memory and love.
Header Photo Credit: Consulate General of Guatemala in Las Vegas
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