Sawdust carpets decorate Guatemalan streets

Every Easter, the residents of Antigua in Guatemala make carpets from sawdust, which are displayed in the streets.

The tradition of making colourful carpets started in 1524 when soldiers of the Spanish conquistadors who had invaded Guatemala imported the tradition of making outdoor carpets at Easter. This originated in the Canary Islands and its capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Modern-day street carpets in Antigua can take days to complete using brightly coloured sawdust.

Elizabeth Bell from Antigua Tours said:

“At one time, the carpets were quite simple, but now they’ve crescendoed and have become the backbone of Antigua’s cultural traditions.”

Many of the carpets have religious-themed designs in keeping with the origins of the tradition, while others are more secular and abstract. As well as carpets made from sawdust, some are constructed using flowers and other natural materials. Processions of residents and visitors walk the streets admiring the carpets.

As with many events, the tradition was suspended for two years due to the Covid pandemic, but in 2022 hundreds of carpets were displayed on the city streets. After Easter, workers with trucks and sweepers remove the carpets, recycling the sawdust and other materials in the carpets.

Modern quality carpets in North Wales and Chester homes last many years, a lot longer than the few days’ life of the sawdust carpets of Antigua. Many types of carpets can be recycled at the end of their life with the materials extracted from them used to make other products.