Zaragoza, Chimaltenango facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zaragoza
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Municipality and town
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 Zaragoza, Chimaltenango
Location in Guatemala
Zaragoza, Chimaltenango
Location in Chimaltenango Department
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| Country |  Guatemala |
| Department |  Chimaltenango |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.0 sq mi (49.1 km2) |
| Population
(2018 census)
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| • Total | 24,022 |
| • Density | 1,267.1/sq mi (489.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (Central Time) |
| Climate | Cwb |
Zaragoza (pronounced sa-ra-GO-sa) is a town and a municipality in the Chimaltenango department of Guatemala. In 2018, about 11,176 people lived in the town itself. The wider municipality had a population of 24,022.
Contents
History of Zaragoza
Early Mentions of the Town
One of the first times Zaragoza was written about was in 1818. A historian named Domingo Juarros mentioned it in his book about Guatemala City. He said that the Spanish town belonged to a church area called Patzicía. This was part of the larger Chimaltenango region during the time of the Spanish Colony.
Becoming a Municipality
Central America became independent in 1821. After this, a new law in 1825 officially listed Zaragoza as part of the Chimaltenango Department. Later, in 1892, a special government decision made Zaragoza its own municipality. Its name was changed to "Zaragoza" because many Spanish people living there came from Zaragoza, Spain.
A Traveler's Visit in 1895
In 1895, a British archaeologist named Alfred Percival Maudslay and his wife, Anne Cary Maudslay, visited Zaragoza. They were on their way to another town. Anne Maudslay wrote about their trip in her book A Glimpse at Guatemala.
She described a windy day with lots of dust. They rode through Zaragoza, which was known for making aparejos. These are special native pack-saddles used for animals. She also heard a funny story about people liking dried alligator meat for a special holiday. Vendors had to sell it from inside the jail for their own safety!
The streets were full of people dressed in bright clothes for a fiesta, which is a celebration. Music from a marimba (a type of xylophone) filled the air as people danced. The Maudslays didn't stay long and continued their journey.
Administrative Divisions
Zaragoza is divided into different areas. These help organize the town and its surrounding lands.
| Type of Area | Names of Areas |
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| Villages | Las Lomas, Puerta Abajo, Agua Dulce, Mancheren, Las Colmenas, El Cuntic, Rincón Grande, Joya Grande, Potrerillos, Rincón Chiquito, Tululché and El Llano |
| Settlements | Hierba Buena, Laguna Seca and El Perique |
| Residential Neighborhoods | El Pilar, Las Ilusiones, Lo de Pérez, Nueva Esperanza and La Colonia 29 de Diciembre |
| Hacienda | Los Jutes |
Fun Things to Do in Zaragoza
Zaragoza has many traditional celebrations throughout the year. These events bring the community together.
| Month | Day | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | New Year: People enjoy a masquerade dance and a free public concert. |
| 15 | A special trip (peregrination) to visit Esquipulas. The villages of Rincón Chiquito and Joya Grande have their yearly fair to honor the Black Christ of Esquipulas. | |
| February | 2 | "Virgen de Candelaria" (Virgin of Candlemas) prayers and church service. |
| Variable | Carnival: A lively celebration before Lent. | |
| March and April | Variable | Lent: Special parades with a statue called "Jesús del Pensamiento" (Jesus of the Thought). There are also special meals and a "Vía Crucis" (Stations of the Cross) every Friday. |
| May | 3 | Day of the Cross: Construction workers put up and decorate crosses at building sites. The town celebrates the Cruz de Pachojo (Pachojo's Cross). |
| 10 | Mother's Day: A day to honor mothers. | |
| June | 17 | Father's Day: A day to honor fathers. |
| September | 1 | Opening ceremony for Independence celebrations. |
| 4 to 8 | Various fun contests take place. | |
| 13 and 14 | Torch races and special community ceremonies. | |
| 15 | Independence Day: A civic parade to celebrate the country's independence. | |
| 30 | Closing ceremony for Independence celebrations. | |
| October | 1 | Horse parade and a cowboy night. |
| 7 | Zaragoza's queen is crowned. | |
| 8 | A fun fair parade. | |
| 11 | A procession for "Virgen del Pilar" (Virgin of the Pillar). | |
| 12 | A big church service (Major Mass). | |
| 13 | A free public celebration and a belt race. Another procession happens at night. | |
| 14 | A closing dance called "El Baile de Antaño" (The Forgone Era Ball). | |
| November | 1 | Day of the Dead: Families visit the cemetery, fly custom kites, and eat traditional foods. |
| December | 24 | Christmas Eve: Families gather for celebrations. |
| 25 | Christmas: Another masquerade dance and free public concert. | |
| 29 | Annual Fair: A yearly fair with fun activities. |
Climate in Zaragoza
Zaragoza has a subtropical highland climate. This means it has mild temperatures all year round, like a spring-like weather.
| Climate data for Zaragoza | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) |
21.0 (69.8) |
22.4 (72.3) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.6 (72.7) |
20.8 (69.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
21.2 (70.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.2 (57.6) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.1 (61.0) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.7 (63.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
16.5 (61.7) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.1 (60.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.7 (47.7) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.7 (53.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
12.5 (54.5) |
12.1 (53.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4 (0.2) |
6 (0.2) |
7 (0.3) |
37 (1.5) |
121 (4.8) |
303 (11.9) |
226 (8.9) |
224 (8.8) |
287 (11.3) |
154 (6.1) |
45 (1.8) |
10 (0.4) |
1,424 (56.2) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org | |||||||||||||
From January to June, the average wind speed is about 13.5 kilometers per hour. From July to December, it's faster, around 25 kilometers per hour. On average, Zaragoza gets about 6.6 hours of sunshine each day.
Where is Zaragoza Located?
Zaragoza is located right in the middle of the Chimaltenango Department. It covers an area of 49.1 square kilometers. Other municipalities in Chimaltenango surround it.
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Santa Cruz Balanyá | |
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| Santa Cruz Balanyá and Patzicía |  |
Chimaltenango | ||
 Zaragoza  |
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| San Andrés Itzapa |
Sister Cities
Zaragoza has one sister city:
Zaragoza, Spain
See also
In Spanish: Zaragoza (Guatemala) para niños
