ROUTE OF THE MAYA
November 9 - 26, 2010
Page Six
Guatemala continued
On the outskirts of Panajachel, one of the towns surrounding Lake Atitlan. It's common to see women and girls
carrying things on their head.
Traditional marimba bands are especially popular in Guatemala where they are the national symbol of culture.
These women were playing the instrument at a local restaurant along the main street in Panajachel in the evening.
This closeup gives you a good view of a traditional
Mayan headdress worn by women, as described on Web Page 5.
Women washing clothes in Lake Atitlan in the town of Santiago. We took a boat from Panajachel to visit
other towns along the Lake.
A female vendor describing her dress to us in the town of Santiago.
Typical taxi in the town of Santiago along Lake Atitlan. Santiago was full of streets with vendors selling
handmade goods, such as dolls, traditional clothing, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Here in a home in the town of Santiago on Lake Atitlan is a representation of Maximon.
Maximon
is a folk saint venerated in various forms by Mayan people in several towns
in the highlands of Western Guatemala.
Where Maximón is venerated, he is represented by a figure that resides in a different house each year.
Devotees visit Maximón in his chosen residence, where his shrine is usually attended by two people
who keep the shrine in order and pass offerings from visitors to the figure. Worshippers offer money, spirits, cigars,
or cigarettes to gain his favour in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling, amongst other favors.
The figure invariably has a lit cigarette or cigar in its mouth, and in some places, it will have a hole in its mouth
to allow the attendants to give it spirits to drink. In the photo, a shaman is lighting a cigarette for Maximon. The shaman
is wearing the traditional dress of Mayan men. You do not see many Mayan men wearing the traditional dress anymore.
A Mayan woman with traditional headdress in the courtyard in front of the Church shown below.
The dominant religion in Guatemala and Central America is Catholicism, although Protestant Evangelical Churches
are growing. A key way in which the Maya resisted the Spanish was by preserving their own rites and customs
within Catholic ritual. This process of "syncretism" has always been present and challenged the church. It wasn't
until the Maya themselves became clergy that the process was truly accepted. As a result, Guatemala's Catholicism
today embraces many different practices.
One view of "syncretism" can be found in the village of Santiago Atitlán.
The church above is one of the oldest on the continent. More than 50 large wooden statues of saints line the interior walls,
all of which are wrapped in colorful indigenous scarves.
It was very difficult to see this woman crawling on her hands and knees away from the Church. Our tour guide
said she would get no help from the Guatemalan Government nor likely her family. I saw our van driver,
the guy in the blue
shirt, quietly give her some money.
You often see children wearing these woven caps
Arriving by boat at the town of San Antonio along Lake Atitlan
Showing the traditional Mayan method of weaving with the back
belt supporting the weaver.
A young girl already learning the art of weaving
Link to Page 7 - Guatemala continued
Link to Page One of Route of the Maya
Pat's Home Page