Fiesta de Santo Tomás 2024 in Guatemala

In honour of this Catholic Saint, Guatemalans perform a traditional indigenous dance

Dates: December 13–December 21

Saints mean a lot to Guatemalans, and this is certainly reflected in the vibrant celebrations held in their honor. Chichicastenango, also known as Chichi in short, celebrates their patron, Thomas, for an entire week between December 13 and 21.

Celebration Highlights

The festival opens and concludes with the cofradía procession, moving through the town toward the church to the sounds of flute and drum music. Throughout the event, icons of St. Thomas, the Virgin Mary, and other saints, adorned with currency, are paraded through the streets. They are accompanied by taper-bearers, marimba and flute musicians, and individuals setting off vibrant fireworks, adding excitement to the celebration.

The saints are joined by the Baile del Tzijolaj, or Dance of the Flute, led by dancers known as Aj Kam, who carry a small, coin-adorned wooden figure of St. Thomas on a white horse. This figure is believed to bring prosperity to the town.

Palo Volador

Celebrated like an endless carnival, the festival also features a variety of other masked dances and rituals. Still, the main show takes place on the last day of the festival when 30-meter-high wooden poles are set in the plaza near the Church of Saint Thomas, and pole flyers swing around on the ropes from the top of the pole to the ground to the sounds of marimba music.

Some of the flying dancers are tied with the ropes around their hands, whereas others—around their ankles. It looks slightly frightening. This traditional dance preserved by the Indigenous Mayan people is called "el baile de palo volador." It is the embodiment of religious fusion as this traditional Mayan dance is performed in honor of a Catholic Saint.