Sumpango: The Giant Kite Tradition

A clear cultural point of reference for Sumpango is the giant kite tradition. It combines a production cycle lasting several months with a fixed date on the annual calendar and a history that spans from the first competition to the festival. For planning your trip, two questions are therefore helpful: will you schedule your dates around November 1, or would you first like to understand the cultural context of the town and the broader destination of Sacatepéquez? This distinction can help you decide the purpose of your trip before looking for a hotel.

The Annual Cycle of Giant Kites

Giant kite-making begins each year in July and ends on October 31. The following day, November 1, the kites are flown or, depending on their size, displayed, on All Saints’ Day. For planning purposes, these are two different time frames: July through October 31 describes the production period, while November 1 is the annual occasion for flying or displaying the kites. Size is also a relevant distinction: it determines whether a kite is flown or displayed.

From Competition to Festival

The first giant kite competition took place in 1978 on a soccer field next to Sumpango’s general cemetery. In the years that followed, the competition developed into a festival. Sumpango celebrates the festival every year on November 1. For historical context, 1978 and November 1 are therefore different points of reference: the first date marks the competition, while the second is the recurring festival date.

Cultural Influence and Production Techniques

Sumpango’s giant kite tradition is influenced by Maya culture. Another point of context concerns the technique: in 2024, the technique for making giant kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This listing concerns the production technique and should be distinguished from the festival’s calendar date. For planning your trip, these different perspectives complement one another: the cultural influence, the craft technique, and the history of the competition. This helps place the festival day within the tradition, rather than equating it with the tradition’s entire cultural significance.

Handicrafts in the Broader Destination of Sacatepéquez

Other handicraft traditions in the broader destination of Sacatepéquez are associated with specific, clearly identified locations. In La Antigua, maiolica ceramics are a featured craft; in Pastores, handcrafted leather boots are featured. Basketry and crafts made from wood and wrought iron are important traditions in the communities of Ciudad Vieja, Jocotenango, and Santa Lucia Milpas Altas. These locations matter when choosing where to travel: the giant kite tradition is Sumpango’s specific festival theme, while the handicrafts mentioned are rooted in other places within the broader destination of Sacatepéquez. The broader destination thus offers two different cultural points of reference: an annual festival in Sumpango and enduring handicraft traditions in other places.

Discover more destinations: Antigua Guatemala, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Ciudad Vieja, San Juan del Obispo, Santo Tomás Milpas Altas, Alotenango

Go to the broader travel overview: Sacatepéquez.