What are typical Guatemalan habits, food customs, recipes and philosophies in Guatemala?

What are the customs in Guatemala regarding food?

Guatemala's cuisine is a bit like Mexico's. With lots of tortillas and tacos. The daily pot of many Guatemalans is based on corn, which is sacred to the Mayans, served with a combination of rice, chicken, potatoes, fried banana and beans.

For meat lovers, there is the churrasco, a steak roasted on charcoal with a sauce of tomato, onion and mint leaves.
On the coast you will find delicious seafood dishes.
Corn cakes wrapped in corn leaves (tamales) are a delicacy traditionally eaten at New Year's Eve.
For the brave among us, there is borracho; cake dipped in rum.
Note: In Guatemala, some endangered animals regularly appear on menus. If you do not want to contribute to the decline/extinction of an endangered species, it is better not to order the following dishes: tortuga (sea turtle), huevos de tortuga (sea turtle eggs), cazón (shark), neque (agouti), venado (deer) and iguana (lizard).

Guatemala produces the best coffee in the world. However, brewing coffee often goes the following way: you get a cup from a large pot, which has been simmering for hours. Even in the better places, the coffee is either too weak or too strong. The coffee we drink in the Benelux often comes from Guatemala. That this coffee is tasty has to do with the fact that the Guatemalans export their best coffee beans to Europe, the second choice to the U.S. and keep the worst quality beans for their own use.
You can go anywhere for a fresh licuado, a mix of fruit with water or milk. Hygiene sometimes leaves much to be desired so ask for refrigerated milk or water from a new, sealed bottle.
Furthermore, Guatemala is known for Zacapa, awarded for two years as the world's best rum!
The national pride Gallo (rooster) is perhaps the tastiest beer in Central America and won first prize at a major Amsterdam beer competition in the late 1980s.
Furthermore, cocoa is native to Latin America, but good chocolate (milk) is oddly hard to find.
Atol is a hot corn drink flavored with cinnamon sticks, for those colder moments.

Most of the celebrations in Guatemala stem from the Catholic religion.
On many holidays, colorful processions are held in each city and the plaza in the center of the city is buzzing with activity.
There's also the interesting tradition of worshipping Saint Maximón, a wooden folk saint venerated by some indigenous communities.
In the month of March/April Semana Santa is Holy Week. This is the week before Easter.
November 1 Todos Santos, the day of All Saints' Day.
November 2 Dia de los Muertos, the day of All Souls.
December 25 Navidad, Christmas.

Guatemalan culture is a blend of Mayan traditions and Spanish influences. This is reflected in many aspects of Guatemalan life, including their habits.
People in Guatemala live in general day-by-day.
Wait for the host to start eating, before you start as well. Finishing everything on your plate shows appreciation for the meal.

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