Interviewed this Good Friday, merchants of the capital explain the behavior that sales have had during Lent and Holy Week 2025.
They explained that depending on the product, sales have behaved, because in some cases they have increased, and in others they have decreased.
Some of the interviewees agreed that the decline in sales is very much because there are more merchants every year and therefore more competition.
Different types of food, soft drinks, hailstorms, sweets or desserts, as well as accessories, resources, toys, robe or cups are part of what can be seen in the processions or surroundings of the temples.
Some have become traditional at the time while others have innovated with their projects or trade currently demand products, such as the Capibara.
Édgar Túchez is dedicated to the sale of toys, bags and accessories and the most novel this year are the different products with shapes of capibara, such as stuffed animals and backpacks, whose prices vary between Q35 and Q50, also bracelets, keychains or ornaments.
However, he said that sales in general have dropped compared to other years and coincides with those who offer other products in which there are every time there are people selling the same. “There are days when the profits can be Q100 or Q150 per newspapers, but sometimes it is only possible to obtain income to cover what it invested,” he says.
He commented that his wife, brothers -in -law, and his father -in -law are also dedicated to the trade of the season.
Christian López, launched this year’s far or devotional cup project called Cafecito with Jesus. These are cups with different designs of religious images such as Jesús Nazareno or Virgin Mary of the different churches, in addition to a message or phrase, and sometimes the brotherhood logo.
López comments that he is a singer and is part of the Church of the Merced of Antigua Guatemala. He states that the project is born due to the need for evangelization at home, because many times people forget to pray, so it is good to remember that thanks to God through a habitual instrument in homes, such as cups.
Each cup has a price to the Q25 public, he explained.
The objective of the project is not only to devote itself to the vein in this season, but there are different devotions that are not lost throughout the year. Now they are focusing on processions, but then the Marian, Eucharistic time comes, and they sell outside the churches where the parish priests give them permission, processional courtships and patron saint parties.
Candy Rivera has followed the footsteps of her father Gerardo Rivera, who created the hails Champions, which offers variety of flavors and preparations which is innovating or adding more their business.
He says that his dad is already around 52 years in the business, he began selling in front of the College of Infantes, when he was located in Zone 1 capital.
The name of his business was derived from he was a bodybuilder
The business has grown based on integrating flavors and preparations into the hailstorms since Gerardo was a chef chief in his first jobs.
When there were only two flavors, the traditional essence of orange and strawberry and lemon, but has been innovating and every year launches a new flavor and currently offer 30.
“Sales have dropped a little because the ingredients have risen in price, especially some fruits or ingredients such as the juices they use for their preparations, and at some point they had also had to climb the consumer price,” he added.
However, he said that over the years they have made their clientele that seeks them especially to enjoy the different sabores of hailstorms.
The simplest hailstorm currently has a cost of Q10 and the most expensive reaches Q50, which is ceviche type with crab meat and shrimp.
Abraham Xiquin, sells honey ties, whose price is Q6 each.
He says he had stopped selling for the season, but now it has been an opportunity to make income because he is unemployed.
Buy the product and should sell everything to cover what you invested and that you have a gain which, he said, can be about Q100 per day, after long work days. Now he hopes to find a fixed job after this season.
Banquitos sales of different material have proliferated during Lent and Holy Week.
Alicia García indicates that her sale begins on Palm Sunday and covers until Sunday of Resurrection.
He comments that at the beginning of Holy Week and until Good Friday there is a lot of demand. However, every season there are more merchants with the same product, so it is more difficult for them to exhaust it.
This has also caused the price to lower, because the benches that were in Q100 last year were now offered in Q60 for each.
In addition to her, her relatives also dedicate sales in the season as her sister and her mother.
María Lucrecia Ruth Zoyos is around 15 years of selling fruit in the central square and for this season it is mainly marketing mango with salt and pepita.
Consumer prices remain the same as last year to Q10, for a base of prepared fruit, but believes that the sale has been regular because there are now many vendors.
Meanwhile, other relatives offer pure water and gas water.
Mildred Sánchez, has been dedicated to the sale of the season for 10 years, along with six other relatives. He indicated that his mother -in -law began the business of sale of tunics, palletinas, belts, gloves, Madrid and accessories about 35 years ago, and a decade ago she also participates.
Sanchez agrees that sales compared to previous years have dropped, because there are many more vendors in each season. To this is added that the fabric has recently raised price, and almost every year the cost of making garments is higher.
Prices vary, a complete suit with purple tunic, pallet, belt, band this year is from Q150 to Q350, since the price varies according to size.
Outside the season each is dedicated to their work, so these sales represent an extra family income, he said.
Iliana García, for 10 years, products such as aromatic incense, myrrh, centers, especially in Lent, Easter and December, while the rest of the year sell seasonal products.
Garcia commented that this year they have done well and indicated that the prices of the products are maintained, since their suppliers have not uploaded them.
For example, of the censers there are from Q45 to Q180, while the best -selling product is the myrrh.
