it is impossible for me to explain the relationship between bombas and Guatematecos but i will try - the closest thing i've ever seen is the irrational behavior of men around the 4th of July in the United States. illegal in most states [for good reason] men drive hours to buy fireworks from a state where it is legal, in anticipation of the 4th of July and then they HIDE THE FIREWORKS from the women [for good reason].
i remember as a child my brothers buying fireworks during summer holidays when we passed through states where selling was legal. the same childlike fascination is celebrated on a large scale in Guatemala.
i remember as a child my brothers buying fireworks during summer holidays when we passed through states where selling was legal. the same childlike fascination is celebrated on a large scale in Guatemala.
the bombas in Guatemala sound like a motar round exploding and in Antigua or at the Lake the sound reverberates off the surrounding mountain sides so it amplifies the sound for miles.
this can drive the expats bat-shit crazy especially when they first arrive, but strangely you get used to it to some extent - like living in a war zone. gradually you stop cringing when you hear them.
there is a history behind the bombas that most people don't really understand. when the Spaniards came they brought with them religion and when building their churches they would get the bells from Europe and the bells were used to call people to church for services and celebrations.
the Guatemaltecos got used to the bells as a symbol of celebration but as they drifted from the catholic church the bells were too expensive to put onto new evangelical churches. instead they used the bombas to call people to church. and so the usage of the bombas spread so that everyone began using them as a symbol of every celebration.
it's annoying as shit when those are going off on your street at 5am for three days in a row because someone is celebrating a birth, birthday, death, religious holiday, government holiday or [fill in the blank].
oh and as if the unending fireworks weren't enough ... there is a tradition of putting a firecracker headress on a teenager, lighting it up and letting them run down the street. this is real and totally sanctioned by the adults.
so you can see why cultures clash when Guatemaltecos arrive in the US.
this can drive the expats bat-shit crazy especially when they first arrive, but strangely you get used to it to some extent - like living in a war zone. gradually you stop cringing when you hear them.
there is a history behind the bombas that most people don't really understand. when the Spaniards came they brought with them religion and when building their churches they would get the bells from Europe and the bells were used to call people to church for services and celebrations.
the Guatemaltecos got used to the bells as a symbol of celebration but as they drifted from the catholic church the bells were too expensive to put onto new evangelical churches. instead they used the bombas to call people to church. and so the usage of the bombas spread so that everyone began using them as a symbol of every celebration.
it's annoying as shit when those are going off on your street at 5am for three days in a row because someone is celebrating a birth, birthday, death, religious holiday, government holiday or [fill in the blank].
oh and as if the unending fireworks weren't enough ... there is a tradition of putting a firecracker headress on a teenager, lighting it up and letting them run down the street. this is real and totally sanctioned by the adults. so you can see why cultures clash when Guatemaltecos arrive in the US.
