DIA D'EL DIABLO

Just ONE of the many displays of devil pinatas to buy
They were literally all over town and all sizes

Another new tradition. The Day of the Devil. Last week we noticed that there were pinatas everywhere of this devil looking character with a 7 on his chest. We thought at first it was some kind of a mascot (you know like the AZ Sun Devils!!)

After asking someone who is in the know (thanks again Dic and Jennifer) we found out that this is a tradition all over Guatemala for December 7th. On this day at sunset people burn the devil to get rid of all the bad things that have happened to them during this past year. If you have been sick, had problems with your business, hardships in your family, etc....you just burn them away.

Right at sunset, we started hearing fireworks (fireworks are shot off for everything here)...and could smell the fires burning. Really...we felt that we were in the middle of a campfire. And the fireworks went off all night. If you see me burning something in the front yard next year on December 7th...you will know it isn't about Pearl Harbor!!