All Saints Day 2008
Posted on November 1, 2008 - Filed Under Fun, Guatemala, Personal | 15 Comments
Ok, so we totally didn`t do what we were going to. First of all . . . this is how the family photos turned out:
I think we cover the skin tone spectrum quite nicely, don`t you? 
We headed to the cemetery and the boys got really excited, even though they didn`t know why. Not that you`d know if from this shot of Dorian`s face . . .
They took off ahead, though.
Just inside the entrance to the cemetery,there is a woman who sells bags of peanuts in the shell. The boys, Dorian in particular, NEEDED to have peanuts. Here they are waiting for their bags. (no, Dorian doesn`t have rabbit ears, that`s a leaf on the wall behind him.
The cemetery didn`t disappoint. It`s a pretty small one, but still was beautifully decorated. We went early in the day, so not many people were there. By night, it will be packed and there will be candles and small bonfires lighting it up as people enjoy drinking and eating around their deceased loved ones.
This is where Irving`s grandparents and his aunt and uncle are entombed.
After the visit, we went out and had food on this little dirt road that runs in front of the cemetery.
The boys had Pepsi, a special treat, and Irving and I had the national beer, Gallo. We all shared tortillas with longanizas, a type of sausage.
Here`s a sign on the outside of the cemetery entrance. It warns those decorating the cemetery not to put water in the flower vases, as it could attract mosquitoes that carry dengue. It shows the life cycle of the dengue mosquito and says at the end that dengue can cause death, with a picture of a casket being lowered into the ground. Nice, huh?
Here`s a lottery table. They sell teensy rolled up strips of paper for one quetzal, about 13 cents. You can win one of the items on the table, rice, pasta, oil, etc. or an animal. Dante was fascinated with the chickens waiting to be drawn.
Slushies, Guatemalan style! This woman has a big block of ice in the middle of the machine and shaves off bits that fall down into a bowl. She then packs a cup full of “snow”, she drizzles it with flavored sugar syrup or lime juice. Personally, I find these disgusting, but then, I was never a fan of those slushies you could get at 7-11 either.
Mmm, dulces tipicos! These are some of the delicious sweets made from fruit here. The brownish ones at the left are coconut candies, including fingers and logs that have been rolled in cinnamon. The red things are candied orange halves, next are baked coconut shavings and little bags of figs. Behind those, seed cakes and donut towers. The big tray on the right is full of pumpkin sweets, my favorites!
We ended up not getting any fiambre or kites. sigh. Next year, I really will make my own. The only person with any fiambre left was a woman who puts weird stuff in it and had doubled her prices from last year . . . the plate was still tiny!
All in all, it was a fun day with the family, though I had no less than three people tell me I was fat on the street, reminding me once again why I hide in my little house and never show my face.
Here`s one last photo of Irving and Dante, on our way back from the cemetery.
Comments
15 Responses to “All Saints Day 2008”
Talk to Me, People!
I am loving these photos! They really brought to life all Jose has told me about All Saint’s Day and how they party with their dead relatives at the graves… he talked about bringing cigarettes, liquor, etc… things the deceased one loved, and spending time at the grave with other family members talking and leaving flowers and all that. What I didn’t know about was the party like atmosphere and vendors outside the cemeteries! He enjoyed seeing the pics now too, and told me that yes, they sell all kinds of stuff there. I like the loteria table, wonder how many tickets I could buy until I got a chicken, lol? Hope you are feeling better, I haven’t been able to check your blog as often as I should due to work, but hoping you got over the pain you were having. One thing I HATE is when I visit Jose’s relatives and they say Como Estas de Gorda! Even people I don’t know at parties, etc… Jose just looks at me because he knows I think it is a BIG insult to call me fat. Sure, I am fat, but geez do you gotta remind me everywhere I go? Another reason I choose to not go to Guate, so I don’t have to hear that everywhere I go. I told him if I hear it from some unknown person on the street I’d probably respond with a Y como estas de feo! probably not a wise thing to do, though. Thanks for the awesome pics, they really made my day!
Glad you enjoyed the pics! I know it`s not supposed to be an insult, but really, how can you say someone is fat and consider it a compliment? One of the women who said this was my midwife, so I kind of didn`t take too much offense. But the other two I don`t even really know, except to see in the street and at family gatherings!
I love the pictures! What a beautiful day.
Even with little bit crying – hee hee… that will be a family photo to giggle about in future when you show it to his wife-to-be, right? All the treats and food sound and look delicious! The cemetery is beautiful too. It’s funny – I personally love a pretty cemetery that is interesting to walk around, with trees and plants, and stones to read. I kind of want to be buried in such a place. Yet, my husband’s family traditionally cremates and scatters the ashes in a special location – that sounds nice too. We don’t have a home, so I have not thought about a final resting place. I suppose I should just leave it up to whoever is left to bury me.. whatever makes them happy 
btw, you can’t win with weight – I grew up very active and very skinny. Overly so, naturally. Some girls were jealous, in a nice way, but some called me a slut – for no reason but my weight! I definitely was not! – males and females felt the need to ask me if I was a model, how I dieted (I didn’t), what size did I wear, shouldn’t I eat more? etc. Dieters would moan on my shoulder asking me how I managed! Now, I am over 40, 2 times a mom, and NOT a bikini body anymore, probably never again.. and still I get comments. Many positive – esp. in places where big is seen as ‘healthy’. I have actually lost a little weight since quitting work last year – not diet, I am simply up and moving a lot now. People have noticed, which gives them, apparently, free access to my personal life. How did I do it? What do I eat? Sigh. I try to take it in good grace… but what’s with the personal comments?! Maybe I didn’t get that gene? The one that makes invading someone else’s privacy come easily? Apparently it exists! Nevermind. I keep in mind the three aspects of womanhood – maiden, mother, crone. I had my time as a maiden, I am proud of myself now as a mother, and shall one day look forward to being retired and spoiling my grandkids as crone, an elder. Why fight it… life is good.
You, and your family, are beautiful! You and Irving are blessed! Thank you for sharing your day!
Thank you, Connie. I like that perspective.
I actually was extremely skinny, too until I was 18. My friends accused me of having the perfect body, lol. They can`t say that anymore!
As for being buried, I want to be buried. I don`t really care for the idea of scattering ashes because there`s no place to visit! If we still live in Guatemala when I die, I want to be buried here. Unfortunately, that might not be so popular with my family back in Canada, so I told Irving, if it`s an issue, chop me in half and I can have half buried in each country.
There have been weirder requests!
Those are great pictures. The cemetery is so colorful and full of life with those flowers.
HELLO HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER. I AM BLOWN AWAY THAT SOMEONE WOULD TELL YOU UGLY THINGS LIKE YOUR FAT. THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS YOU SHOULD TELL THEM OH I’M SORRY DID YOU THINK I ASKED YOUR OPINION!!!!! ANYWAY I LOVE SEEING THE PICTURES
I loved these photos. Very intersting about the cemetery. Hopefully people follow the no water rule. Thanks for sharing a about where you live.
You and Irving and your kids make up a beautiful family. What a blessing!
That looks like a fun day! I had to look up what fiambre was on the internet. Do people not make their own? How can you not like slushies? I mean really. I thought we were soulmates, but now I have to reconsider. lol.
I cannot believe that random strangers will walk up and say you’re fat. How can that not be considered rude? And is your size any different from some of the other women in Irving’s family? I know very well that I am overweight, and I don’t need to be reminded of it. Sheesh.
I love the pics of you and the family. I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t get 2 boys smiling at the camera at the same time!!
Jessica, Irving`s mom is bigger than I am, but his brothers and sisters are all quite thin. I think most people are commenting because before Dorian I was really not that bad . . . I was then basically pregnant for two years and came out the other end worse for wear and then KEPT gaining weight thanks to not moving much . . . and I rarely go out. Not that this gives ANYONE an excuse, but no one ever comments on my mother-in-law. I do have to admit though that Irving gets comments on his weight, too. :S So it`s not just a girl thing.
Great pictures!!!
Wow! I am loving these pictures! The food, the flowers, the beer, the colors and of course your family pics are beautiful! You really take nice pics! I get so anxious to get there when i read a post like this one but yet i know i’m not ready- I had already planned to be in better shape when i arrived but now the pressures really on. After reading that people will call you out for being fat and reading the comments from the other blog readers i definitly would not want to jump on a plane and fly out today in my “condition!” Lol… but yeah i know what you mean about the spanish culture, my son’s Tia has been calling him Gordo since he was born. My son however likes my fat, he puts his arms around my waist and rubs his face in my belly and says “I don’t want you to get skinny Mommy, your cuddly and warm…and squishy!”
I’m like Oh Eddie, you had me at warm and cuddly, you didn’t have to say SQUISHY! I DON’T WANNA BE SQUISHY!
What a wonderful post and what a beautiful cemetary. I felt like I was going along with your family in this post and getting to hang our in Guatemala.
xoxo
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted
These are wonderful photos, that give a ‘real’ insight to life in Guatemala. And I LOVE the family photo as well! You do have the skin tones done pretty well!
Now, NO-ONE needs to be told about their weight… But, not know the level of humour you have (or the other people there for that matter) but a response to this sort of comment we have heard is “… I may be fat, but your ugly! And I can loose weight!”
Not sure if it will work, and you have to be fairly quick to use it back, but if done right, you may both end up laughing and not harm done!!
For the record, your not fat, just cuddlier than most…
Aww, thanks, Bernie!
I`m usually fairly non-confrontational (until I get REALLY pissed off, then there`s no stopping me!) so I don`t know that I`d have the nerve to say that someone.
[...] get to go this year because we were all so sick, unfortunately. You can read about past years here and here, [...]