Cardboard devils reduced to ashes for Guatemala's Christmas season, with special focus on Trump devils

Record ID: 76299

  • Title: Cardboard devils reduced to ashes for Guatemala's Christmas season, with special focus on Trump devils
  • Date: 8th December 2016
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF CITY VARIOUS OF CARDBOARD CHRISTMAS DEVILS OF DONALD TRUMP VENDOR HOLDING UP TRUMP DEVIL FOR SALE IN STREET TRUMP DEVIL AMID OTHER CARDBOARD FIGURES WEARING U.S. SASH CHILD VENDOR ANNOUNCING TRUMP DEVIL FOR SALE WHILE HOLDING TRADITIONAL DEVIL (NOT A SOUNDBITE) TRADITIONAL DEVILS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF TRUMP DEVILS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARDBOARD DEVIL MAKER, ABIGAIL ZARAI, SAYING: "To drive away the bad spirits from homes and streets. So they burned paper, garbage and bottles and this polluted the air. And, well, burning devils isn't the same as burning tires. It's a very beautiful tradition and we hope that Guatemalans continue with the tradition and don't lose it." GENERAL VIEW OF WOMAN MAKING DEVIL IN WORKSHOP WOMAN PUTTING FACE ON DEVIL BLACK AND WHITE DEVIL WITH RED STARS FOR EYES GENERAL VIEW OF CITY AT DUSK BEFORE THE BURNING OF THE DEVILS BEGINS VARIOUS OF TRUMP DEVILS PREPARED FOR BURNING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, ASTRID SOTO, SAYING: "We are against this person [Donald Trump] in many respects - regarding deportations, with the wall he wants to build. We do not agree." VARIOUS OF TRUMP DEVIL BURNING RESIDENTS WATCHING AND LAUGHING U.S. FLAG THAT WAS PART OF TRUMP DEVIL BURNING VARIOUS OF FIRE BURNING DEVILS
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 14:55
  • Keywords: Donald Trump cardboard devils Christmas season
  • Location: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • City: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015C0YE6B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Guatemalans took delight on Wednesday (December 7) in extending their annual pre-Christmas tradition of burning cardboard devils to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
    For centuries, families, friends and neighbours have participated in the traditional annual ceremony to chase away bad spirits from their homes and neighbourhoods.
    The celebration originated in the 16th century and took place in various towns but since the 1990's it has become popular in the entire country.
    Devil-maker Abigail Zarai said the devil-burning tradition has taking on an environmental angle as she explained the origin.
    "To drive away the bad spirits from homes and streets. So they burned paper, garbage and bottles and this polluted the air. And, well, burning devils isn't the same as burning tires. It's a very beautiful tradition and we hope that Guatemalans continue with the tradition and don't lose it," she said.
    The cardboard figures come in all shapes and sizes, but this year's star was a devil taking on Trump's likeness in various forms - holding a fistful of cash, wearing a U.S. sash and carrying the American flag.
    "We are against this person [Donald Trump] in many respects - regarding deportations, with the wall he wants to build. We do not agree," said resident Astrid Soto before setting fire to the Trump figure.
    Despite a push to avoid pollution, after burning their cardboard devils, many Guatemalans light fires with rubbish, tires and plastics, leaving thick clouds of smoke that affect the air quality.
    Guatemalan authorities try to encourage people to think about pollution during the celebrations. First aid stations were prepared with firefighting equipment in all 22 states, but no incidents were reported.
    The "Burning of the Devil" festivities kick off Christmas celebrations in Guatemala.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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