The burning of the devil in Guatemala

The burning of the devil is a magical-religious Guatemalan celebration. Its origin dates back to the XVI century as a preamble to the festivities of the birth of Christ, representing the triumph of good over evil. According to some historians, the burning of the Devil originated in the XVI century as a preamble to the festivities of the Nativity. Since, in colonial times there was no electric lighting, many Guatemalans attended the procession of the Virgin of the Kings or the Immaculate Conception and to light their way they made these bonfires that illuminated the passage of the procession. For this reason it took place on the eve of the day of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 7, starting with this tradition the festivities of Christmas.

Since this date is exactly nine months from the memorial of the birth of the Virgin Mary and coincides with the celebration of the advent of the birth of Christ, it is performed as a spiritual cleansing in which by means of the symbol of garbage is intended to remove all impurity by burning bonfires fogarones (as they are known), with garbage and / or figures of the devil paper symbolizing evil.

The tradition consists of taking out the oldest or most worn out things found in the home; pretending to make a deep cleaning at home. Most Guatemalans collect and burn used newspapers throughout the year.