Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
This is a somewhat conflicted holiday in Guatemala as in much of Latin America. Some celebrate Columbus's discovery of the Americas. Others celebrate the survival of indigenous cultures in spite of that discovery and the European conquest that followed it. The designation Dia de la Raza or "Day of the Race," namely a race mixed of colonial and indigenous elements, represents this duality. Celebrations in Guatemala City, centering around the Plaza Mayor, may meet protests. Such meetings, while most often peaceable, do warrant caution.
Nick: BaCKPacker
The title to this post is somewhat misleading. Dia de la Raza is celebrated on October 12th, just as one might imagine from the Columbus Day addendum. The June 16 2007 at the top of the entry is probably meant to indicate the date of the post, not of the celebration.
Posted by: David | June 20, 2007 at 12:09 AM
How beautiful AMERICA is. It is my dream. I hope I will be able to go there only next summer because of my vacation time. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Posted by: Silk road | October 08, 2007 at 01:50 AM