Max Herman/Borderless MagazineThe Guatemalan celebration aims to welcome the new year with a fresh start as Chicagoans symbolically release negativity in a blazing fire pit.
On a frigid early-December night at Logan Square bar Park & Field, a crowd of Chicagoans all wearing insulated jackets gathered around a fire pit on the bar’s patio.
They were taking part in La Quema del Diablo or “burning of the devil,” a tradition that takes place throughout Guatemala every Dec. 7. La Quema del Diablo is part of a preparatory celebration for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Christian holiday that celebrates the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“The whole idea of bringing [Quema del Diablo] back here is to not let our culture die,” says organizer of La Quema del Diablo, Manuel Girón. “A lot of people can’t go back home and see these traditions again.”
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Manuel and his wife, Valeska Girón, owners of a Guatemalan-inspired apparel and home business called Girón, hope to bring traditions like La Quema del Diablo to Chicago to increase Guatemalan representation in the area.
In Logan Square, bar patrons participated in a cleansing ritual, releasing the negative experiences of 2025. One by one, attendees dropped handwritten notes that documented the negativity into a fire pit alongside a piñata of the devil.
Yesenia Sancé, whose parents are from Chiquimula, Guatemala, was aware of the tradition and was especially drawn to the idea of burning away any negativity of 2025 heading into the new year.
“I want to get all the bad vibes out of the way [by] doing this and be with my family,” Sancé said.
Across Guatemala, families have burned items believed to have negative energy in a bonfire outside their homes in celebration of La Quema del Diablo. Over time, Guatemalans have shifted to burning effigies of the devil during the celebration.
Sancé says that before her dad immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala, he and his cousins and siblings celebrated La Quema del Diablo in his hometown for his going-away party. When Sancé told her parents this celebration was happening, they were excited to attend as a family.
“I didn’t know there was something like this in Chicago, so finding a community years later is so important,” says Sancé. “This is my first Quema del Diablo because traditionally we don’t do it [here].”
Co-organizer Valeksa says this Guatemalan tradition is one she feels most connected to. She says it’s an opportunity to gather with the community around a fire and let go of what might be holding you back.
“Life is so here and gone tomorrow that we should let go of things and start all over again,” says Valeksa. “There’s always an opportunity to cleanse yourself of things and just move forward, but in such a fun way.”
Manuel hopes that those who are not part of the community will learn about Guatemala’s traditions and culture through the events they host.
“I really hope they get to learn something new because they’re not all Guatemalans here,” says Manuel. “At least those who are not Guatemalan at least learn something new that they get to see and experience. “
Max Herman is Borderless Magazine’s Visuals Editor. Email Max at [email protected].
