![Believers of the cult of San Simón near the entrance to the temple grounds in San Andrés Itzapa. Photo: Santiago Billy/Comvite](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3ccc9f_d357b96051754638802bd2aa628c773e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/3ccc9f_d357b96051754638802bd2aa628c773e~mv2.jpg)
Every October 28, there’s a birthday party for San Simón in the highlands of Guatemala. The syncretic deity, known also as “Monchito”, is an important part of the country’s folklore. So, hundreds of followers of the tradition flock to the temple in San Andrés Itzapa, a town 22.1km northwest of La Antigua Guatemala, and throw one big party.