Guatemala Sawdust Carpets

The guinness world record for longest sawdust and floral carpet was set in 2014 in guatemala city the capital.

Guatemala sawdust carpets.

Sawdust carpet antigua guatemala carpets are created within churches during the time of the vigils which are held to honor the statues that will be used in procession. Artists use wooden stencils to create the intricate designs. Over a mile long at 6 600 feet over 2 000 feet longer than the previous record holder it took over 5 000 volunteers and over 50 tons of dyed sawdust to produce it. And now they beat their own record with 6 600 ft way more than last year s record.

The next step is to lay down a background color. Antigua guatemala carpets are generally made using molds with allegoric designs religious symbols biblical scenes geometric shapes and floral designs with entire families working together using sawdust pine needles fruit flowers sand and cut paper. We cut out various stencils by hand to make the designs in this case the smithsonian sunburst and our 50th anniversary logo make an appearance. These carpets range from the relatively simple to the very complex as seen in the photo below in antigua s la merced church.

The designs themselves use fine colored sawdust. Sawdust carpets like this one in the historic city of antigua line city streets in guatemala each year during holy week the week that precedes the christian festival of easter. The process begins by gathering sawdust from local lumber yards which is then dyed with brightly colored aniline dyes from guatemala. This years guatemala s easter festival is more of flowers and sawdust.

As elaborate and individual as they are ephemeral alfombras are carpets that adorn the street routes of church processions during the season of lent. A sawdust carpet decorated with geometrical patterns and food is displayed during semana santa in la antigua guatemala id. Other cities also have street carpets at easter.