The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)has inscribed Guatemala’s Technique of making the giant kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The tradition of making and flying kites in Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango, Guatemala dates back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The kites are made over several months and exhibited during the fairs of the Day of the Saints and the Dead.
The designs used address themes related to the environment, the fight against violence, and human rights. The tradition is perceived as a means of connecting with ancestors, warding off negative spirits and promoting renewal.
An opening ceremony was on Sunday, 1 December 2024. The session is chaired by H.E. Ms Nancy Ovelar de Gorostiaga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Paraguay to UNESCO.
