Women of Chichicastenango

It’s no surprise the blankets from Guatemala are as colorful and vivid as the vibrant culture of the country. In a small province called Nauhala, which is a 4 hour journey from the capital of Guatemala City, the bright hues and rich traditions are carried over the windy roads and corn fields to a small home habited by a woman named Rosa and her family. Rosa is 38 years old and has 6 children. While she is a busy mother, she manages the weaving cooperative right in her home with fellow women weavers, as her husband and children contribute to the process. After her father passed away, he left the cooperative to Rosa to continue the family legacy. In order to get to her home, we had to walk up a small foot path lined with corn stalks that were 8 feet high, which are harvested to make the famous Guatemalan corn tortillas.

Like most crafts that are unique to a country, they are passed down for generations. One of the weavers that works under Rosa named Isabella, has known Rosa her whole life and has been taught the art of weaving. Most young children take part in the craft in smaller ways before they learn how to weave. Even though they live a great distance away from the city, it was interesting for us to experience the upbeat city and how that is translated into something as simple as a blanker woven miles and miles away by the expressive and brilliant colors.