As a mom of six with Guatemalan roots, I’ve always made it a priority to weave our culture into everyday life. My husband, who was born in Guatemala, and I do our best to ensure our kids grow up proud of where they come from while still embracing all the fun traditions we enjoy here in the U.S.
One of our favorite family traditions is celebrating Halloween. Honestly, it’s one of the highlights of the year for the kids—and for us too! We go all out with costumes, baking treats, decorating the house with spooky stuff, and, of course, trick-or-treating. With six kids running around, Halloween is a wild and fun event in our house. It’s a time when everyone’s creativity shines, and we just enjoy being in the moment together.
But as much as we love Halloween, there’s another tradition that’s even closer to my heart—El Día de los Santos. It’s a special Guatemalan tradition where we honor our loved ones who have passed away. On November 1st, we take time to remember our family members who are no longer with us. This isn’t as well known as Día de los Muertos, but for us, it’s just as important. It’s about visiting cemeteries, bringing food, and spending time reflecting on our ancestors. It’s a quieter, more personal tradition that’s deeply rooted in Guatemalan culture.
One of the most unique parts of El Día de los Santos is fiambre—this epic dish with so many ingredients that it’s almost a challenge to name them all! It’s a cold salad with meats, vegetables, and pickled things. It might sound a little intense, but trust me, it’s a labor of love that brings our family together every year. We don’t make it exactly like they do back in Guatemala, but the spirit is still there. It’s a way of passing down a little piece of our culture to our kids, keeping the flavors and memories alive.
And then there are the kites—barriletes. Flying these bright, colorful kites is another way we honor our ancestors. It’s said that the kites help guide the spirits of our loved ones back to us. While we don’t make the giant kites like they do in Guatemala, we still love taking our kids out to fly smaller ones. It’s become one of our little traditions that helps us blend the old with the new.
For us, this time of year is all about finding balance—letting our kids enjoy the fun and excitement of Halloween while also teaching them about the importance of family and tradition through El Día de los Santos. It’s a way for us to show them that it’s possible to embrace both their American experiences and their Guatemalan heritage.
So, whether we’re dressing up in silly costumes or flying kites in honor of those we’ve lost, it’s all about creating memories that celebrate where we are now and where we come from.
