TWEEEEET! Guatemalan Independence Day! (w/video)

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The flag procession and some runners amidst

For the past few weeks we noticed more and more flags popping up in various locations: the Parque Central, local shops, the municipal buildings, on cars, and even vendors walking around selling flags. (You can see a little picture of the flag on this entry at the bottom; I think it's quite lovely and you can see the little "15 de Septiembre, 1821" pictured on it).

At first I thought it was due to the elections - obviously an important day for any local citizen. It turns out, however, that the 15th of September is Guatemalan Independence Day. On that day in 1821, Guatemala separated from Mother Spain. (You may recall that Antigua is a colonial city, largely developed and settled by the Spaniards during the 16th century. It's interesting to note that one of the largest buildings in the town is the Spanish Embassy).

Starting Thursday we began to notice a whole lot of whistles and horns tooting. Or should I say, MORE tooting. The car horn is generously used in just about any situation and at any time of day: hello friend, get out of my way, I'm going to hit you, move you stupid dog, hey listen to my fun horn when I toot it in this rhythm, wake up people it's already 6:30am, hey don't I know you? do you like my car?

So on Thursday we hear a lot of horns, but also a bunch of whistles. (Like the ones at a basketball game). Lots of whistles in a very constant pattern: da da dit dit daaa, da da dit dit daaa, over and over. Since this is a city of walls, we couldn't see out from our house to see what was happening, but during a break at school on Friday I heard the same thing. This time I walked out to the street to see a bunch of kids, maybe a 6th or 7th grade class, running down the street in their track suits, a few holding aloft a burning torch, and tooting lots of whistles; da da dit dit daaa, da da dit dit daaa. Following them was a small pickup driven by grownups and, of course, tooting their horn. The kids ran about a block, turned, and then ran back up to the Parque Central. After that, I supposed they....stopped.

My teacher explained that this was popular thing to do: come in from the surrounding towns or pueblos as a group, run through the streets blowing your whistles, and generally have a fun time. Sounds good to me.

So while Grace had an art lesson at a local teeny tiny art shop, I walked around and took some photos and video. Some folks wanted to up the noise ante by loading huge loudspeakers on their trucks and drive through the streets honking, tweeting, and flag-waving to whatever tune they had going.

We later met the Wilsons at the Parque Central where the crowning event was the raising of the flag at 6pm. By this time the din of the crowd, with lots of groups of whistling runners, was pretty loud. I managed to get some video footage of some soldier-ish looking boys marching the flag up the street to the catheral steps, where there was a flagpole. At 6pm they lit a huge firecracker BOOM and then slowly lifted the flag to the tune of the national anthem. At the end, everyone clapped and was happy, and our hungry little group went off to pizza dinner.

The next day (the actual 15th) was evidently another big celebration in the town square, and although we spent the morning in the center, we left around 2pm before anything exciting happened. However, during the course of the day we heard more and more sound checks coming from the center (our house is about 7 blocks away but sound travels very well with all these open courtyards and such), and by early evening there was a lot of music and general fun happening in the city. Happy 15th of September!

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Photos

Tweet! The Running of the Guatemalans
All you need is a whistle, a flag and a torch. The building on the end of the block, right, is the Municipal Building with flag bunting.

More Guatemalans running!
This time, a local Scout troop

A musician departing at the end of his gig
I caught this little music ensemble packing up their instruments in the truck and then jumping on the back and heading out. For anyone who knows the Buena Vista Social Club, is this guy one of them? Rumor has it they play in a local club pretty often...

Comments

[Mary Deaton]

Better than firecrackers!
I am sure I, and positive our dog, would prefer people blowing whistles to people setting off fireworks to celebrate anything. It sounds like a very egalitarian means of celebrating - no cost more than a whistle and no severed fingers and hands.

[SonjaG]

Sonja's response
Ah, but the rest of the year, in fact EVERY DAY - including this morning around 6am- the locals set forth any number of firecrackers that have long ago been banned from our state! It is absolutely their favorite way to make noise (followed closely by car-horn tooting)

[Jami]

good story
So, I'm a little behind in my reading, but I'm getting caught up... Lucas, you do tell a good story. I love that you used the word "din." Glad to hear you're all doing well! love ya