People Tzutuhil of Santiago Atitlan
The term Tzutuhil means "flower of nations". The capital of this "nation" is Santiago Atitlan, a small town that has been, and is, one of the centers of resistance against indigenous white domination.
It is a very important place of worship where it is possible to find in any dimension various religious beliefs of Guatemala: Catholic, evangelical and customs.
One of the strongest exponents of the indigenous religion or customs, which is a defendant syncretism maya-católico, is a divinity Maximón syncretic whose fraternity is in Santiago Atitlan.
They place of the old Maximón, name that mixes Mayan Mam to God and the holy Saint Simon, lived in the village a long time ago and was taking care of the women while the men worked.
Misteries some women became pregnant without their husbands present for what this character was charged and subjected to torture, including cutting off the feet.
After his death became to be honored with a reputation for adulterer and quarrelsome.
Today come across Guatemala to make requests related to sex, money or alcohol. Passengers who visit should offering cigarettes, money and alcohol that the same brothers sold their itinerant chapel.
Quiche
Over the years immediately preceding the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the people Quiche dominated, politically and militarily, the area known as high Guatemala.
Other people like Cakchiquel or Mam them disputed that privilege but they certainly were the strongest.
Its capital Utatlán, built on a promontory, is very near the town of Santa Cruz del Quiche.
Today Quichés occupy a territory similar but its strength has been weakened, especially with regard to means of production, religion and social relations.
But basically, although many external elements could prove otherwise, Quiche, like the rest of Mayan peoples, still subject to your subconscious prehistoric.
It is usual to find them at dawn doing their ancestral rites on the steps of the church of Chichicastenango or on the hill Tuscaj where they offerings to Pascual Abaj.
The Mam
Before the arrival of the Spaniards Mam was a powerful people who dominated the entire area occupied by the solid mass of high Cuchumatanes.
Its capital, Zaculeu, is a plateau surrounded by ravines, near the present capital of the department Huehuetenango.
During the colony were spreading toward more hidden valleys and today live mainly in the vicinity of two populations such as San Juan and All Holy Cuchumatán Atitlan.
Their lives do not differ much from those of the rest of indigenous Guatemalans, but they, by their isolation, have managed to retain some cultural elements better unequivocally pre Hispanics.
San Juan Chamula and Zinacatan
They Tzotziles are very near San Cristobal de las Casas and is the most visited by tourists, which has led authorities to regulate, through this income payment.
The troubled relationship between indigenous people and settlers in Chiapas have always had these people one of its main focuses.
They are the nerve center of the indigenous resistance. Everything that represents an aggression towards their lifestyles is a source of conflict.
Here came the great Indian rebellion against the attempt by the church in the eighteenth century to eliminate idolatry.
Even today costume fighting between Catholics and evangelicals tend to end up with violent clashes. One visitor who comes and penetrates the churches had to save a deep respect for the rules if you do not want to have local problems |
