Carnaval in Xela: Just Add Flour and Eggs...

Throughout Latin America, Carnival remains one of the most highly anticipated holidays of the year. Rooted in Catholic traditions, Carnaval precedes Ash Wednesday, the day beginning the Lent period of fasting and prayer. Though every Latin American country possesses its own unique Carnaval traditions, the holiday universally marks a day for festivities and partying.

So last week, all of us QT guides were amped for the opportunity to accompany the 15 Hogar Abierto children to the Carnaval celebrations in Xela. With a huge (though somewhat outdated) fair erected in the Parque Calvario, toddlers and teens parading throughout the city in costume, and street vendors peddling glitter and confetti, Carnaval promised to be an enjoyable cultural experience. Fun for the whole family, right?

Little did we realize the chaos that would ensue. Immediately upon entering the fair, we unsuspecting gringos were bombarded with a barrage of flour and raw eggs. Guatemalan teenagers from far and wide caught wind of our arrival and came sprinting for the opportunity to join in the assault. You see, in Guatemala, the eggs and flour are customary aspects of Carnaval. For days before the holiday, local youth amass small arsenals of the baking ingredients so that they might pelt their friends and siblings on Carnaval day. Kids attacked, we retaliated (or at least tried), more children arrived, and local spectators videotaped as our clothes transformed into mottled collages of white and yellow.

Overall, the evening was great fun. The Hogar kids were able to enjoy the rides and fair food, we guides got to experience Guatemalan traditions firsthand, and my hair was coated in raw eggs, which I've heard possess numerous benefits for hair health. Carnaval was at times chaotic, and perpetually messy, but we would not have missed it for the world.