Ventas

An Experience All Its Own In Guatemala

Ventas are one of the more exciting things to see and a huge boost to the informal economy, are the salespeople who wait at the plazas in front of churches. When the procession enters the church, they have a ready and usually hungry and thirsty audience of thousands.

Commonly sold items include cotton candy of all colors, chupetes, or small suckers made from sugar. Empanadas are also very popular for those who are hungry after a long day of walking with the procession. You'll also find pizza, sodas, bottled water, ice creams, churros, and molletes available from walking vendors or stands.

The area usually looks like a fair, with humming generators keeping the stands well lit. Since many processions go through the night, the vendors will sell until they run out of supplies, at which point, many simply curl up on the ground by their stand and go to sleep. It's virtually impossible to get anywhere in a vehicle during Semana Santa, so they will have to wait until the crowds die down to get home.

Cotton candy and chupetes vendors also follow the processions, taking advantage of the space immediately behind the last band to peddle their wares. Other vendors sell toys, everything from handmade pinwheels to noisemakers and laser lights. These are displayed on boards that they haul along with them.

Many people set up small shops or restaurants in their homes for the week. These may be as simple as an ice chest that is filled with cold drinks, or as elaborate as a garage filled with tables and chairs where traditional meals like pepian and empanadas are served. These annual sales can make a big difference in the life of a family. Some also rent out their bathrooms to desperate cucuruchos.

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