Guatemala’s devil-burning ritual turns into political protest: Video
Guatemala marked its annual “Burning of the Devil” on 7 December, a long-standing tradition that signals the start of the festive season.
This year’s event drew international attention after a giant piñata depicting US President Donald Trump was set alight in protest against his immigration policies. The figure, designed with horns and eight legs, became the centrepiece of the ritual in Guatemala City.
Footage from Sunday shows crowds gathering to watch the torching of the Trump-themed effigy, accompanied by fireworks as part of the celebration. For many participants, the act carries symbolic meaning. With many participants viewing the burning of a small devil figure as a way to cast out misfortune and start the year renewed, a sentiment often expressed by regular piñata buyers who take part in the tradition.
For artisan families, the event is also a vital economic moment. Among them is Marco Antonio González, owner of ‘Piñatas Tom y Jerry’, known for crafting multiple versions of Trump piñatas, including models dressed as ICE and FBI agents. González said he began producing Trump figures at the start of the president’s term “because of the disastrous policies he carries out,” describing the effigy as a portrayal of “the highest disastrous authority of deportations”.
Although rooted in Catholic tradition, the Burning of the Devil has evolved into a cultural space where creativity, political expression and craftsmanship converge. The ritual continues to serve both as a symbolic cleansing ceremony and as a platform for social commentary within Guatemala’s end-of-year celebrations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
