Traditional Guatemalan Wooden Masks
Our Guatemalan masks are fun, vibrant, and handmade! In our shop, you can find masks of jaguars, lions, cats, dogs, birds, saints, devils, and so much more. These are traditional masks still used in Guatemala by many indigenous people in traditional dances and festivals. Although the meaning of some of these ceremonies has been forgotten, they are typically used to bring fertility, yield a good harvest, or scare away evil spirits. Although the traditions originated long ago, today, the heart of the Mayan traditions and culture can still be found in modern day Guatemala where many artisans still craft masks in the ways of their ancestors. Guatemala has been known for its beautiful one-of-a-kind culture which merges their indigenous Mayan roots with colonial traditions. Many of these dances, such as “El Venado” or “Toritos” show the beautiful merge of both cultures.
When visiting Guatemala, I had the privilege of seeing some of these amazing traditions first hands. The costumes, the colors, the people, and the atmosphere were definitely one-of-a-kind. Even though these pictures don’t capture everything about it, I hope it gives an idea of their traditions!
While being there, I also had the opportunity to meet a lot of these artists responsible for creating this beautifully unique wooden masks. Here is some of their work that is available in our shop!
Shop our entire Guatemalan selection here!
Also make sure to check out our Bolivian, Mexican, and Haitian masks!