AN EXPLOSIVE GUATEMALAN TRADITION

I challenge you to find a more beautiful and exciting Christmas tradition anywhere.

What I just observed is unrivalled by any city in any country in the world! Perched up high above the city lights I witnessed the heavens come to life. When 4 million people simultaneously set off firebombs across the night sky it is a delight for all your senses. The smoky sulfur fills you with joy. The streams of whistles, bangs and every decibel explosions from far and wide rattle you deep in your core. The colours and sparkles spread across the atmosphere eventually mingling with the bright lights from a valley of homes and streets. You feel the tingle of amazement and wonder too know that all the souls in this place are sharing this special moment. From every single level of society, the mansions high above to the slums deep below, everyone; man, woman and child is experiencing this spectacular display just the same.

Guatemala City has carried on this tradition for many years. The start and culmination of it all is at twelve o’clock on the dot and lasts up to an hour. Eventually the sky fills with the smokes of these blazing sights. As it settles like a fog over the valley you can still see glows of the continued showers of coloured fire being shot up into the sky. I dare you to try to capture this on film. Its grandeur cannot simply be displayed in a photograph. It is something that must be experienced. But don’t wait too long. The economic downturn has been just as hard in this tiny country depending so desperately on tourism. The prices on fireworks have spiked sharply making this tradition harder for the average folk to afford.

~An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega~

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