Guatemala Sawdust Carpets

And now they beat their own record with 6 600 ft way more than last year s record.

Guatemala sawdust carpets.

The process begins by gathering sawdust from local lumber yards which is then dyed with brightly colored aniline dyes from guatemala. As elaborate and individual as they are ephemeral alfombras are carpets that adorn the street routes of church processions during the season of lent. 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 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.

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. A sawdust carpet decorated with geometrical patterns and food is displayed during semana santa in la antigua guatemala id. These carpets range from the relatively simple to the very complex as seen in the photo below in antigua s la merced church. Artists use wooden stencils to create the intricate designs.

The guinness world record for longest sawdust and floral carpet was set in 2014 in guatemala city the capital. 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. 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. The designs themselves use fine colored sawdust.

The next step is to lay down a background color. Other cities also have street carpets at easter. This years guatemala s easter festival is more of flowers and sawdust.