Maya Festival of San Francisco de Asis

The fireworks, the color, the noise are intense. Exciting.

Amid this Maya-flavored festival of San Francisco de Asis (Saint Francis), I stand with crowds of Maya admiring the spectacle.

celebrations with statue of saint francis in maya festival in guatemala — When the statue of Saint Francis arrived – amid much fireworks and fanfare – the religious aspect of the ceremony began.

I’m in Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and it’s early October, and the main day of the Festival of San Francisco de Asis is held today, on the 4th.

This festival celebrates Saint Francis of Assisi – as most Maya in Guatemala today are Catholic.

San Francisco de Asis statue being carried into church by Mayan men — After parading around the Saint Francis statue, it carried inside the church.

And while performers’ masks are distinctively European, the local Maya also infuse their own traditions and colors into this festival.

maya women pray at a festival in Guatemala — Offerings, prayers, candles, pine-incense; the serious part of the festival.

maya leaders in traditionla clothes at festival of San Francisco de Asis — Maya chiefs gather on the steps of the church once the statue is inside.

performers at San Francisco de Asis festival — Once the statue was inside and religious ceremonies finished, the carnival of San Francisco de Asis really begun with a variety of costumed dancers.

masked performers San Francisco de Asis festival in guatemala — This could be scenes from a European carnival… but it’s in Guatemala!

I was staying some months on the opposite side of the Lake Atitlan in the town of San Pedro, so I came over for the main day celebrations of the San Francisco de Asis Festival.