This photographic series captures the vibrant traditions of Todos Santos Cuchumatán, a historic town nestled in the highlands of Guatemala. Renowned for its strong indigenous Mayan culture, particularly among the Mam people, Todos Santos serves as a living testament to the power of tradition. 

The annual Todos Santos Day festival, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, is the centerpiece of the town’s cultural life. It reflects a fusion of ancient Mayan rituals and Catholic influences, offering a powerful expression of the community’s resilience and spiritual connection to both the past and the present. The festival’s traditional dances, music, and ceremonies—centered around the Day of the Dead—honor ancestors while embracing the living.

One of the most distinctive traditions of the festival is the carrera de caballos, or drunken horse race, a centuries-old ritual that is both exhilarating and dangerous. Riders participate in a daylong series of races, drinking heavily before and during the event. The intoxication is not incidental but an integral part of the tradition, believed to test the riders' endurance, courage, and spiritual connection to the land. Riders make repeated passes along a narrow stretch of road in the town, often pushing themselves and their horses to the limit. 

While the origins of the drunken horse race are tied to pre-colonial indigenous practices, it is now seen as a symbolic act of defiance against Spanish colonial rule, when the Spanish tried to suppress native traditions. Today, the race is a point of pride for the community. Despite calls for reform or abolition, many locals view the race as a vital link to their ancestors, a test of strength and a celebration of life’s unpredictability.

As with many remote communities, Todos Santos is navigating the complexities of modernization and economic change. My work not only highlights the beauty of these long-held traditions but also serves as a reflection on the delicate balance between cultural preservation and the forces of Westernization. Through this series, I hope to evoke a sense of the town’s unique identity and the ongoing efforts to maintain its rich heritage amidst a rapidly changing world.