Handcraft

The handicraft features the national coat of arms of Guatemala. It is a shield with two rifles and two swords crossed with a wreath of laurel and a resplendent quetzal. The resplendent quetzal is endemic to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and is particularly difficult to domesticate, often dying shortly after being captured. Therefore, the resplendent quetzal represents "freedom or death." In the ancient Mayan culture of Guatemala, the resplendent quetzal was seen as a sacred bird. The coat of arms also bears a piece of parchment, marking the day of Guatemala's independence - September 15, 1821. After gaining independence from its colonial government, Guatemala endured a bitter period of military rule, civil war, and ethnic cleansing. It was not until 1996 that the country finally emerged from military control.