Key facts for Guatemala
Christmas is the main corporate gifting occasion, preceded by the Quema del Diablo on 7 December.
How companies in Guatemala give year-end gifts
Guatemala's Christmas season opens with the Quema del Diablo on 7 December and includes posadas in neighborhoods and offices. Employees receive the legally required aguinaldo in December (and a separate Bono 14 in July), and many employers add a gift or food basket. Tamales and ponche are the classic seasonal foods. Client gifts are usually food baskets, chocolates, branded items and calendars, delivered in early December with a card in Spanish. Business relationships are personal and hierarchical, so senior contacts typically receive a more carefully presented gift. The afternoons of 24 and 31 December are public holidays, and offices tend to be quiet until early January. Guatemala City is the main corporate center, and deliveries to other regions take longer.
Gift occasions in Guatemala
Quema del Diablo
Traditional 'burning of the devil' that opens the Christmas season.
Christmas
Main occasion; the celebration peaks at midnight on the 24th.
Bono 14
Mid-year legal bonus; the aguinaldo is paid in December.
Good practice
- Deliver in early December, before the posadas.
- Present senior contacts' gifts carefully.
- Use Spanish cards.
Avoid
- Avoid gifts to public officials unless their institution's rules clearly allow it.
Design and wording
Christmas wording and imagery are fully appropriate.
Delivery to Guatemala
Imports clear Guatemalan customs with duties and VAT; the EU–Central America Association Agreement can reduce duties for EU-origin goods. Food products are subject to sanitary rules.
Planning dates for Guatemala
| Order personalized stock advent calendars by | 6 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Order Christmas hampers by | 13 Nov 2026 |
| Fully custom calendars for 2027 — order between | 01.2027 – 08.2027 |
Indicative planning dates; exact dates are confirmed in your proposal.
Recommended formats for Guatemala
Chocolate advent calendars
Twenty-four chocolates and your brand on the front from 1 to 24 December.
Tea & coffee calendars
A tea or coffee advent calendar with your logo is a measured, practical gift for clients and colleagues who prefer to avoid sweets.
Plush & merch calendars
A merchandise advent calendar distributes your branded items across 24 doors: socks, pins, stickers, small plush and treats, each carrying your logo.
Empty calendar boxes
For companies that already have the filling: custom printed advent calendar boxes in bulk, designed around your products and delivered flat or…
Christmas hampers
Corporate Christmas hampers with your logo on the box, ribbon or card, composed to your budget band and delivered to one office or to individual home…
Baubles with logo
Most promotional items are discarded within weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Quema del Diablo?
A tradition on 7 December, when people burn rubbish or devil effigies to open the Christmas season.
Is 24 December a holiday in Guatemala?
Yes, from noon.