Throughout the Cuaresma, Antigua Guatemala gets to receive hundreds of visitors; locals and foreigners, who want to spend some time in the colonial city and witness the processions and the celebrations of Semana Santa. For us is a special moment to appreciate the cultural heritage and the devotion of all the people that participate in the processions.
One of the main interests are the colorful rugs made out of flowers and tinted sawdust. Local families and businesses get together to design and prepare the materials to create their very own rugs hours before the procession walks by their area. The most awaited ones happen the night of Holy Thursday and Good Friday; some of the days where Antigua is full of people day and night.
Thank you so much for reading about how we experienced the Semana Santa in Guatemala; in the meantime take a look at some of the moments we got to capture during this time of the year and hope you get to plan a visit for Holy Week in the upcoming years.
La Semana Santa en Guatemala es un trayecto muy especial qué inicia el Martes de Carnaval en Febrero 21 justo antes del Miércoles de Ceniza. Aquí en Guatemala es una tradición celebrarlo con cascarones pintados y rellenos de pica-pica y brillantina. Es un evento para los más jóvenes, ya qué los niños asisten a la escuela con sus disfraces y usan los cascarones para jugar y quebrarlos entre ellos, dejando el pica-pica caer sobre la cabeza.
Durante la Cuaresma, la Antigua recibe cientos de visitantes; locales y extranjeros, quienes quieren pasar algún tiempo en la ciudad colonial para presenciar las procesiones y celebraciones. Para nosotros es un momento único qué nos permite apreciar las herencias culturales y la devoción de todas las personas qué participan en las procesiones.
Uno de los intereses más grandes de esta época son las coloridas alfombras hechas con flores y aserrín teñidas con añelina. Las familias y negocios locales se juntan para diseñar y preparar los materiales para crear sus propias alfombras horas antes de qué pasen las procesiones frente a sus casas. Las alfombras más esperadas son las de Jueves y Viernes Santo; uno de los días qué la Antigua se llena de personas día y noche.
Muchas gracias por leer sobre la experiencia qué vivimos durante Semana Santa en Guatemala; en el mientras tanto tómate un tiempo para ver los momentos qué capturamos en estos días y esperamos qué te inspiren a planear una visita para esta semana tan especial en los años que vienen.
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Updated March 2023
We have put together some of our top places that you shouldn't miss! Antigua is bigger than you imagine, there's a lot of walking and a lot to see. Some of our favorite places we have been found out of curiosity and we're happy to be able to tell you about them.
Cacao Boutique Hotel | The colonial experience.
Good Hotel | A hotel with a social mission.
El Convento | High-end hotel.
Ojalá Hostal | Modern hostel.We can't get enough of them:
El gran café | Best to go coffee place.
12 Onzas | Super cute place to hangout.
Fat Cat Coffee House | Perfect stop for a city tour.
Alegría Café | It has everything you need: coffee, brunch menu and... now wifi!!
Luna Zorro Studio | Natural Dye Workshop.
Xibalba Studio | Stone Carving Workshop.
Hikes | Acatenango & Fuego Volcano with CAMP AKT. And Cerro de La Cruz, a small hike just a few minutes from the center of Antigua.
Museums & Ruins | MUNAG, Convento Santa Clara, Cathedral, Ermita San Jerónimo.
Finca el Pilar | Hike and natural pools
City Walking Tour | Hosted by Laura's mom. Book directly with Lola Spillari via email or Whatsapp/Call/Text to +502 42117251.
La Mala vintage | Sustainable vision Vintage Selection.
Nimpot | Artisanal goods and textiles.
Casa de los gigantes | Textiles and Antiques.
Indigo Custom Textiles | Natural Dye pieces.
Qué onda vos | Wool Rugs from Huehuetenango.
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo | Spa Day
Healing Hands Therapy Spa
Amaya Salon & Spa
Spa in the Woods | Bosco Antigua
If you have any questions or would like to know any other places feel free to send us a message via our social media platforms, and if you visited already and loved it let us know too!
⌲ Follow our journey via Instagram & Facebook.
⌲ Shop Online here.
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Once a year, when the dry season makes rivers go low we go to Sierra de las Minas to collect our stones. Our "rule" to pick the stones is if we can carry them with us uphill, this way we pursue the importance of honoring the material, to respect the place where it comes from and to use only what we need.
We use silver and solid gold to make the setting of the stones. These metals are collected from technology and existing jewelry that is damaged or just ready to become something new! At the workshop we melt and refine the metals to bring them back to life into new pieces of jewelry.
Stones are so hard that they require diamond tools, water and a lot of patience to be transformed. In the lapidary workshop we go through the process of cutting, carving and polishing each stone, using different techniques that we have developed depending on the design.
And last but not least, fire and precision collide to complete the one-of-kind pieces of art. The craftsmanship behind this process is just stunning. The final touch!
When you purchase Xibalba you are getting a one-of-a-kind jewel that will last a lifetime. It fills us with joy to connect with each piece that we make from its origin, til we hav the final result waiting to go to their forever homes. Being a part of the transformation, honoring the materials, the process and the people behind each piece is til this day our biggest inspiration.
May this inspire you to be curious of what's behind your jewels, your clothes, your food, your words.
Long time no see! As you may have noticed, we have been silent for a while and we think it's time to make an official update.
After a few months of rain, a couple of eclipses and many many tremblers, we honor how everything changes, how Earth is so incredibly powerful, how transformation is a beautiful magical constant event.
Now our surroundings are so lush and green after the rain; clear skies with pink tangerine sunsets in the soirees and Fuego volcano reminding us each day to contemplate and enjoy every moment we are gifted.
As the season has been transitioning, we have been as well. Feeling the cold wind, the freshness in the air and flowing with the inspiration that we have received and collected throughout this time.
About to complete a DECADE as a business, as a family...wheels spinning, torches lighting, benches full on, preparing to share with you our new chapter, our new ideas, our new "us".
Do you also feel like this second half of the year just came and went in an instant? It is difficult for us to understand the relativity of time, how we feel that it passes so quickly and sometimes that it doesn’t. And it is that in general, this year has been of many changes and adjustments for us.
After coming from a fairly slow pace and a lot of adjustments, we are in a moment of growth that has taken us a bit by surprise and that filled us with a lot of energy! One of the changes that make us the happiest are the people who have been joining the team recently; each one with their magic, their passions and their contributions have been giving Xibalba a new base, fresh air and a lot of love to be able to take Xibalba to new destinations.
Our headquarters has also changed! Although that happens all the time, and every time you visit there’s something new. This space always inspires us, an architectural jewel in the heart of this colonial city that has seen us grow... and it is precisely this we want to bring to all of you through our digital space, a store that has also been adapting and acquiring its own essence. We are watering this new rootsevery day and putting lots of love so that it grows and bloom.
We hope to see you in site or virtually 🫶🏽
¡Tanto tiempo sin vernos! Como ya habrás notado, hemos estado silenciosos por un tiempo y creemos que es hora de hacer una actualización oficial.
Después de algunos meses de lluvia, un par de eclipses y muchos temblores, honramos cómo todo cambia, cómo la Tierra es tan increíblemente poderosa, cómo la transformación es un hermoso evento mágico constante.
Ahora nuestro entorno es tan exuberante y verde después de la lluvia; cielos despejados con puestas de sol rosa mandarina en las veladas y el volcán de Fuego que nos recuerda cada día que debemos contemplar y disfrutar cada momento que se nos regala.
A medida que la temporada ha ido cambiando, nosotros también lo hemos hecho. Sintiendo el viento frío, la frescura en el aire y fluir con la inspiración que hemos recibido y recogido a lo largo de este tiempo.
A punto de completar una DÉCADA como empresa, como familia... ruedas girando, antorchas encendidas, bancos llenos, preparándonos para compartir con ustedes nuestro nuevo capítulo, nuestras nuevas ideas, nuestro nuevo "nosotros".
Ustedes también sienten que esta segunda mitad del año solo llegó y se fue en un instante? Nos cuesta trabajo entender la relatividad del tiempo, sentimos que pasa tan rápido y a veces que no pasa. Y es que, en general este año ha sido de muchos cambios y ajustes para nosotros.
Después de venir de un ritmo bastante pausado y de mucha adaptación, estamos en un momento de crecimiento que nos ha tomado un poco por sorpresa y que nos ha llenado de muchísima energía! Uno de los cambios que nos hacen más felices, son las personas que se han integrado al equipo, cada quien con su magia, sus pasiones y sus aportes le han ido dando a Xibalba una nueva base, un aire fresco y sobre todo mucho cariño para poder llevarnos hacia nuevos destinos.
Nuestro headquarters también ha cambiado! Aunque eso pasa todo el tiempo, y cada vez que nos visitas hay algo nuevo. Este espacio siempre nos inspira, una joya arquitectónica en el corazón de esta ciudad colonial que nos ha visto crecer. Y es justamente esto lo que queremos llevarles a través de nuestro espacio digital, una tienda que también se ha ido adaptando y adquiriendo su propia esencia. Estamos fortalecido estas nuevas raíces todos los días con amor y dedicación para que crezca y florezca.
Esperamos verte física o virtualmente 🫶🏽
⌲ Follow our journey via Instagram & Facebook.
⌲ Shop Online here.
⌲ Sign up to our newsletter to be the first one to know about our events, new collections, and brand updates!
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For our newest collection fases we wanted to share the procces that went behind making the pieces.
We took inspiration from the moon and its different phases, how it allows us to see its different sides. So we wanted to honor our collection by experiencing wih different techniques, showcasing silver in unusual colors.
]]>Jewelry care starts in our studio in Antigua Guatemala, where we carefully craft your statement pieces. Now we come to your home with easy methods to clean your jewelry at home.
Laura Spillari, our founder, says this cleaning process is special because you spend time with your pieces and remember why they are special to you. We hope you enjoy this video with Laura, where she guides you into jewelry cleaning from the comfort of your home.
]]>Jewelry care starts in our studio in Antigua Guatemala, where we carefully craft your statement pieces. Now we come to your home with easy methods to clean your jewelry at home.
Laura Spillari, our founder, says this cleaning process is special because you spend time with your pieces and remember why they are special to you. We hope you enjoy this video with Laura, where she guides you into jewelry cleaning from the comfort of your home.
Jewelry Care:
Method 1
Liquid soap
2 containers with warm water
Method 2
1 tablespoon of baking soda
2 containers with warm water
Steps
It is important to cleanse your jewlery every 3 to 6 month, both with silver and gold pieces.
Xibalba pieces have lifetime maintenance so you can bring them anytime you want to our studio. It will be a pleassure having you here!!!
Ahora qué? Creo que esta fue la primera pregunta que muchos de nosotros nos hicimos hace algún tiempo. Pará todos han sido momentos inciertos y "volver a la normalidad" pareciera ser un nuevo mundo... pero, lleno de qué? - Now what? I think this was the first question many of us asked ourselves a few months ago. There have been uncertain moments and "returning to normality" seems to be a new world ... but, full of what?
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Creo que esta fue la primera pregunta que muchos de nosotros nos hicimos hace algún tiempo. Pará todos han sido momentos inciertos y "volver a la normalidad" pareciera ser un nuevo mundo... pero, lleno de qué?
Es interesante como el ser humano se adapta y en el mejor de los casos aprende y crece con esa adaptación. Lo que en un inicio fue duda, enojo, incertidumbre, pesar... poco a poco se fue convirtiendo en imaginación, resiliencia, motivación y finalmente en dicha.
Previo a la pandemia Xibalba era un espacio concurrido, un lugar donde nos encontrábamos con personas de todo el mundo que después de algunas palabras se convertían en amigos.
El viernes 15 de marzo cerramos las puertas del estudio y fue justo en ese momento que invadió mi mente el... ahora qué?
Fue una lucha grande vencer las emociones negativas, muchas veces incluso se apoderaron del momento. Poco a poco me fui concentrando en aceptar la situación de la mejor manera y en encontrar la solución para poder seguir generando empleo para mi equipo y lograr que este espacio siguiera existiendo. Las ideas fueron brotando como flores en primavera. Página web, colecciones inspiracionales, nuevas técnicas... y cada vez más, me encontraba en este hermoso espacio con algo nuevo... Tiempo y Esperanza.
Y entonces se acabaron las excusas, se cambió el ritmo... Me llené de fuerza, de energía y empecé! Empecé a platicar con otros artistas y artesanos, empezamos a unir ideas y conocimientos. Empecé a darle seguimiento a los proyectos que estaban encajonados.
Y ahora qué?
Ahora hemos incorporado nuevos procesos, nuevas disciplinas. Hacemos ceras para joyas y usamos el horno y la centrífuga que antes estaban olvidados. Instalamos un telar de pie en nuestro estudio porque los textiles tradicionales de Guatemala siempre han estado presentes en mi vida. Queremos aprender cosas nuevas, coincidir con personas que comparten su conocimiento para crear juntos.
Y ahora qué?
Estamos más cerca que antes, más fuertes que antes, más Xibalba que nunca. Estamos aquí, resurgimos. Estamos sanos, consientes y felices.
Los retos no cesan, es el ritmo natural de la vida, cada día es un nuevo reto, a estar feliz, a estar agradecido. A tomar decisiones consientes, a triunfar. A sobreponerse. A amar, a no temer.
Bienvenidos siempre a este espacio donde la creatividad brota de las paredes, donde compartimos lo que sabemos, lo que nos gusta.
Hoy estoy más agradecida que nunca con el tiempo, lo he vivido de otra manera, lo he apreciado tanto y lo valoro aún más. Valoro también más a mi familia, mis compañeros, mi estudio y mi hogar. Me siento más comprometida que antes con los artesanos con quienes trabajamos, con los proyectos que están formándose. Con los seres que han formado parte de este sueño.
Now what?
I think this was the first question many of us asked ourselves a few months ago. There have been uncertain moments and "returning to normality" seems to be a new world ... but, full of what?
It is interesting how the human being adapts and in the best of cases learns and grows with that adaptation. What at first was doubt, anger, uncertainty, regret ... little by little it turned into imagination, resilience, motivation and finally happiness.
Before the pandemic Xibalba was a busy studio, a place where we met people from all over the world; who after a short conversation became friends.
On Friday, March 15, we closed the doors of the studio and it was just at that moment that the this question came up... now what?
It was a big struggle to overcome negative emotions, many times they even took over the moment. Little by little I was concentrating on accepting the situation in the best way and finding the solution to be able to continue generating employment for my team and ensure that this space continued to exist. The ideas were blooming like flowers in spring. Website, inspirational collections, new techniques ... and more, I found myself in this beautiful space with something new ... Time and Hope.
And then the excuses ended, the rhythm changed ... I was filled with strength, energy and ready to start! I started talking with other artists and artisans, we began to combine ideas and knowledge. I started to follow up on projects that were boxed in.
And now what?
Now we have incorporated new processes, new disciplines. We make jewelry waxes and use the previously forgotten oven and centrifuge. We installed a foot loom in our studio because traditional Guatemalan textiles have always been present in my life. We want to learn new things, meet people who are open to share their knowledge and create together.
And now what?
We are closer than before, stronger than before, more Xibalba than ever. We are here, we resurface. We are healthy, conscious and happy.
The challenges do not stop, it is the natural rhythm of life, each day is a new challenge, to be happy, to be grateful. To make conscious decisions, to succeed. To overcome. To love, not to fear.
You are always welcome in our studio, a place where creativity sprouts from the walls, where we share what we know, what we like.
Today I am more grateful than ever for the time, I have lived it differently, I have appreciated it so much and I value it even more. I also value my family, my colleagues, my studio and my home more. I feel more committed than before to the artisans with whom we work, to the projects that are being formed. With all of you that have been part of this dream.
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