Guatemala Sawdust Carpets

These carpets range from the relatively simple to the very complex as seen in the photo below in antigua s la merced church.

Guatemala sawdust carpets.

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. 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. The process begins by gathering sawdust from local lumber yards which is then dyed with brightly colored aniline dyes from guatemala. Last march 2013 the longest sawdust carpet measured 4192 ft and 10 inches and was achieved by the municipality of guatemala.

A sawdust carpet decorated with geometrical patterns and food is displayed during semana santa in la antigua guatemala id. Artists use wooden stencils to create the intricate designs. 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. And now they beat their own record with 6 600 ft way more than last year s record.

Semana santa or easter s holy week in antigua guatemala 2010 sees some of the most elaborate sawdust carpets in the world made out of fruit flowers and more these carpets are incredibly. This years guatemala s easter festival is more of flowers and sawdust. The designs themselves use fine colored 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.

Other cities also have street carpets at easter. The guinness world record for longest sawdust and floral carpet was set in 2014 in guatemala city the capital. 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.