The tiring physical labor that most men endure during the year and the endless needs of the household that the women tend to year-round are certainly worthy of vacation.  As a dominantly Christian community, the people of San Lucas find days of rest throughout the year in the celebrations of their faith.  These celebrations often include the traditional Guatemalan festivities such as setting off loud firecrackers known as bombas, participating in parades and processions with religious figures and eating special food.

Holy Week
Beginning with Holy Week in March or April, which is perhaps the biggest celebration of the year, the people spend a week preparing for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The week is filled with church services and processions with symbols of Jesus, Mary and other figures.  A symbolic foot-washing service and last supper takes place in the parish. 

However what the town is most known for in their celebration of Holy Week are the elaborate carpets that the townspeople spend hours constructing on Good Friday before the procession of Jesus in the casket after the crucifixion.  The procession lasts all afternoon, evening and well into the early hours of the morning.  The culmination of Holy Week takes place on Sunday in an early morning procession of the risen Christ followed by a mass celebrating the resurrection.

Independence Day
On September 15, the nation celebrates its Independence Day.  This day marks Guatemala’s formal independence from Spain gained on September 15, 1821.  The celebration consists of three days of activities conducted by students of all ages in the town park.  On midnight of September 15, the torch at the town hall is lit as a symbol of liberty commencing the days’ activities. 

This is a day of vacation countrywide as students take the day off of school to host dance shows and competitions and the townspeople receive time off of work to spend time with their families.  The conclusion of this day is marked by the singing of the national anthem and the lowering of the Guatemalan flag as the sounds of bombas fill the air. 

San Lucas Fair
Each town in Guatemala has their own patron saint and celebrates the day of their respective saint.  San Lucas’ celebration of the patron Saint Luke takes place on October 18.  However, the tradition in Guatemala is to celebrate with a week of vacation and activities known as the fair or “feria.”  The students finish school in San Lucas just before the fair as the Ferris wheel and arcade games are being put up around town. 

Leading up to the day of Saint Luke are processions of the saint through town, dances in the Cofradia, eating cotton candy and riding the Ferris wheel.  On October 18, the people of the town are called to the church at 3 a.m. by the sounding of bombas.  For two hours people gather around with sleepy eyes and weary children in hand to wait for the 5 a.m. mass celebrating Saint Luke and the town of San Lucas.  After the mass, the people are free to enjoy a day of rest and celebration.

All Saint’s Day
Not long after celebrating the patron saint of San Lucas, the people gather the first of November to celebrate All Saint’s Day.  It is a day for remembering all of those who have died: saints, martyrs and loved ones.  The people go to the cemetery early in the morning on November 1 to decorate the burial sites of their loved ones and honor them.  A mid-morning mass is held in the cemetery where the names of all of the deceased are read out in honor and remembrance.

The day-long festivities may include sharing a meal with the deceased, flying kites to send them messages in heaven and eating fiambre, a traditional meal of the day.  At night groups of children go from house to house representing spirits of those who have died.  They ask of the families to share with them corn and huiskiles from the seasonal harvest.

Christmas
The year’s celebrations conclude with Christmas.  Every evening beginning nine days before Christmas, groups go around town participating in the “posada.” They reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in remembrance of the beginning of the Christmas story.  At each house they are denied entry just as Mary and Joseph were. This leads up to the primary day of festivities and celebration in San Lucas which is December 24. 

The women of the families spend all day preparing the traditional tamales and chuchitos and large pot of fruit punch made with the fruits of the season.  This meal will be eaten at midnight to usher in December 25 and celebrate the birth of Jesus.  After spending the day preparing the meal, the families go to a mass or church service in the evening and return home to await the arrival of midnight. 

At midnight, townspeople set off fireworks while children and others fill the streets to see the lighting of the night sky.  Once the fireworks are finished the families gather in the home to share the midnight meal.  Sleeping in on December 25 initiates this day of rest and celebration in honor of the birth of Jesus.