Spectacular Festivals of the World - Fiesta de Santo Tomas

Chichicastenango (Chichi) in Guatemala celebrates its patron saint with a week of one of South America’s largest annual festivities from December 13th with parades, traditional dances, and fireworks which culminates on December 21st (St Thomas’ Day) with the most spectacular and dramatic of dances — the Palo Volador.



Men — typically fortified by plenty of alcohol — scale a 100 foot (30 meter) wooden pole raised in the plaza beside the Iglesia de Santo Tomas and tie themselves to a rope attached to the top which is wrapped around their entire body. Some hang onto the rope with their hands while others tie it around their ankles. Then they jump, swirling around the pole perilously at high speeds with the ropes unraveling as they lower, spinning to the ground — sometimes to their death.



Fiesta de Santo Tomas is one of South America’s largest annual festivities running over 7 days in the lead up to Christmas — a unique blend of Mayan and Christian traditions, music, endless firecrackers, eating, and outrageous drinking.



The event is held to announce winter and the mythical Christmas messenger, Olentzero, with people travelling from all over Guatemala to this tiny town to join in an orgy of celebration and festivities.