Giant kites fill Guatemalan skies (Video)

[Jazzy]

To commemorate the Day of the Dead Guatemalans fly giant kites, which are said to carry messages up to the spirits in heaven.

In Guatemalan culture, the Day of the Dead is a time when the world of the living and the dead mesh together, and spirits will return to Earth from heaven.

To commemorate this day, Guatemalans fly hand-made giant kites outside cemetaries, which are said to carry the messages tied to the tails up to the spirits of their loved ones.

The tradition of flying kites goes back over 100 years in Guatemala and has become a major tourist attraction.

Preparations for the Day of the Dead start 40 days before November 1, as young people gather to start making the huge kites.

The kites are flown until 4pm on November 1 when they come down and the families gather at home to wait for the arrival of their spirit loved ones.

Video

Wow, awesome kites!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Those were pretty cool kites!