Alfombras de Aserrin
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 07:06PM
Fabian Lewkowicz

Guests look at Janet Rodriguez's  Alfombras de Aserrin (sawdust carpet) at Edison Language Academy during the 10th Annual Festival de Otoño ~ DÌa De Los Muertos on Saturday, October 30, 2010. The making of alfombras de aserrín, with its vivid colors and eye-catching patterns is a Guatemalan tradition that dates back to the Mayans. Mayans made these carpets with flowers for the kings to walk on as they made their way to Mayan ceremonies. In the 16th Century, the Catholic church altered the tradition of the alfombra and began to use colorful sawdust to create them. The Alfombras are made from hand-dyed sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables and is a community-forming tradition.

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