The Culture, The Food, and The Music(Plus some of the most adorable children EVER!)

Guatemala

Santa Cruz del Quiche

I have been to Guatemala twice and went to Antigua and Santa Cruz del Quiche. My heart is definitely still in Quiche with the kids at Casa de Mi Padre.

Santa Cruz del Quiche is a modern city, not a village, so it is normal to see Burger King and McDonald’s there, but it isn’t like it is here, with a fast food place on every corner.

Culture

Santa Cruz del Quiche is known locally as “El Quiche” and is the capital city of the “state” of Quiche, Guatemala.

Quiche is rich in Mayan heritage and you can even accidentally stumble upon a Mayan temple and/or worship service.

The language of most Quiche people is K’iche’ (pronounced Key-chAY), but Spanish is also a strong influence.

Traditionally, children dress like their parents, unless clothing cannot be bought. Women (girls) wear traditional skirts and tops and men (boys) tend to wear dress shirts and pants. The orphans we worked with wore “American” clothing – T-shirts, Pants, and Jackets.

Quiche men and women work. Women will work in and out of the home, whether they are making and selling tortillas or they run the family market stand.

Food

As previously stated, Quiche is a modern city and has plenty of fast food options. I’ve eaten at Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King in Guatemala, and really, it tastes WAY better than it does here.

My mission team ate at a place called “Pollo Campero” basically twice a day. It literally means “Chicken Camp” and is the Guatemalan version of Chick-fil-A. I have eaten every item on the menu at least once, and can order for myself in Spanish.

In Guatemala, it is a huge honor to have dinner guests, so one night, the Pastor’s wife made dinner for us and we had Pollo Encebollado and Carnes Encebollado. (Chicken/Beef in an onion-based sauce)

Music

Guatemala was one of the first regions in the New World to be introduced to European music.

The traditional style was Merengue, and most music was made by playing the Marimba.

Nowadays, Guatemalan music is very contemporary and includes (but is not limited to): Caribbean, Salsa, Merengue, Latin Pop, Mariachi, and ‘Rock in Español’ (Spanish rock).

Popular Instruments

Marimba (an Idiophone)Guiro (an Idiophone)Tzu (6-hole

flute)(an

Aerophone)

Guatemalan Marimba

Mayan Music