Mayan culture clothing: Fabrics and Clothing — The Maya Empire for Kids

Huipil – a traditional Maya garment — Na’atik Language & Culture Institute

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Jul 16

Written By Na’atik Mexico

You can still find this traditional tunic-style Maya garment, the huipil (pronounced weepeel) worn across Central America and Mexico. There’s a huge variation in styles, lengths and materials, often making distinctions between the wearer’s or producer’s origins. For example, living in the Yucatan you’d be pretty uncomfortable wearing the traditional wool garments from the highland areas and, likewise Maya women living in the highlands would get rather chilly in the light, cotton dresses suited to our more tropical climate of Quintana Roo.

We might be biased but we think our local huipil are pretty special. Each village has a distinctive style of embroidery and decoration — Pedro can identify where one has been sourced from by the local embroidery style within seconds!

The huipil is everyday attire for many Maya and Yucatec women, practical and cool. The most recognizable is the white cotton fabric tunic, with brightly colored flowers embroidered around the square neckline and hem. This style of huipil is often worn with a special petticoat called a fustán, which has lace around the bottom that shows beneath the huipil.

The huipil is everyday attire for many Maya and Yucatec women, practical and cool. The most recognizable is the white cotton fabric tunic, with brightly colored flowers embroidered around the square neckline and hem. This style of huipil is often worn with a special petticoat called a fustán, which has lace around the bottom that shows beneath the huipil.

The huipil is also part of the ceremonial dress called the terno. Made from three pieces, the huipil used for this is usually a slightly more luxurious fabric and has a wide lace hem. To create the full terno is created by wearing this with a more decorative version of the fustán; which can be seen through the lace of the huipil, and a short, fully embroidered blouse worn over the top.

The ceremonial outfit, often worn by Yucatec Folkloric Dancers, is topped off with a flower headdress, ribbons, and jewelry.

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Gender and the Division of Labor – Sam Noble Museum

Home / Collections and Research / Ethnology / Maya Textiles / Pitzer Collection of Maya Textiles / Gender and the Division of Labor

 The decision to wear traditional clothing or not is often directly related to how much a person interacts with the world outside of his or her own village. For this reason, different styles of clothing can be seen within the same family. For example, Maya men who work as day laborers outside the village may not wear traditional clothing, while their spouses who remain at home continue to do so. This pattern reflects the sexual division of labor found in many Maya communities. Men tend to work outside of the home, either in wage labor or in the household’s cornfields, while women tend to work within the household, either in craft production, childrearing, or housekeeping. Thus, men have adapted to the clothing styles of the world outside of their communities, while women continue to wear what they always have. This pattern is predominant in many Maya villages.

 

Blouse: E/1993/02/007_____ Shawl: E/1993/02/009_____ Skirt:E/1993/2/006

 

 

 

 

This outfit is typical of the clothing worn by women of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, a community where some women continue to wear native clothing. The huipil, or blouse, is constructed of three panels of cloth. Where these panels are sewn together, the weaver embroidered multicolored flowers. This design is also continued around the neck. The perraje, or shawl, is woven of cotton and wool and serves multiple purposes. It can be worn around the shoulders on a chilly day in the highlands or folded and carried on top of the head until needed. In some areas, it may be used to cushion a load carried on the head, or it may be used as a carrying cloth to transport an infant or produce from the fields. The corte, or skirt, is made of cotton, and the fabric is typically woven on treadle looms. This skirt is made of two lengths of cloth. The randa, or the area where the two pieces are sewn together, is embroidered with pink, purple, yellow, and burgandy embroidery. The darker area above the randa indicates that this skirt was taken in to accommodate a shorter person and later let out, perhaps as its owner grew taller. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirt:E/1998/14/011___Skirt:E/1998/14/012___Belt:E/1998/14/013___Apron:E/1998/14/014

 

 

This outfit is worn by the little girls of Totonicapan, a Q’eqchi’ speaking town in Guatemala. It consists of a huipil (blouse), a delantal (apron), a faja (belt, under the apron and not visible), and a corte (skirt). The huipil is made of a single piece of cloth. It is closed at the sides and features a machine-embroidered floral design at the neck. The delantal is worn around the waist and ties at the back. The fabric is of multicolored ikat (tie-dyed) design. This delantal features a ruffle at the hem and lavender embroidery. This pink, dark blue, and white corte is made of cotton and features a double ikat design. A double ikat design is when tie-dyed thread is used as both the warp and the weft of the fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headband:E/1995/001/042___Skirt:E/1995/001/041___Top:E/1994/001/005

 

 

This outfit is worn by Poqomchi’-speaking women in the Alta Verapaz village of Tucuru, Guatemala. Women of this community are immediately identifiable because of the type of coiledred fabric headdresses that they wear. Supposedly, this headdress is reminiscent of the coral snake. This three-panel huipil is characteristic of Tucuru. It is brocaded and features side panels that contrast with the middle panel. While the brocaded designs may vary by weaver in their placement and exact format, Tucuru huipils usually feature these contrasting panels and are predominantly red in color. The corte that accompanies this huipil is manufactured on a treadle loom and is of a plain balanced weave. This skirt is made of cotton and is gathered at the waist with a drawstring. Below the knee-level of this skirt is a contrasting stripe woven with ikat or tie dyed thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even within a community where men and women both continue to wear traditional styles of clothing, these styles are different and reflect the sexual division of labor. There are only a few villages where men continue to wear traditional clothing, and oftentimes they continue to do so to demonstrate their pride in being Maya. By far, villages where men and women both continue to wear traditional styles of clothing, such as Todos Santos Cuchumatan, San Juan Atitan, and Santiago Atitlan, are exceptions to the rule. Men of these villages are instantly recognizable because of their distinctive clothing styles.

 

 

 

E/1998/14/023E/1998/14/046

This man’s shirt is from the Mam-speaking community of San Juan Atitan. Colorful embroidery and brocade on homemade fabric make this shirt particularly distinctive. Also, the body of the shirt is made of one piece of fabric, with a V-neck, and is open under the arms rather than down the front like Western-style shirts. Men of this village typically wear loose white pants and straw hats with these shirts.

 

 

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This shirt, pants, and tzute are typical clothing for a man from San Miguel Chicaj. All three pieces are decorated with brocade.

Traditions and culture of the Maya. Guatemala, Honduras Description of places

Description of places

Guatemala

Guatemala (Spanish: La Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion, Ciudad de Guatemala) is the capital of the Republic of Guatemala, as well as the largest city in Central America.

Natural conditions

The city is located in the southeastern part of the Guatemalan highlands, in a valley at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. Earthquakes often happen here. The climate is mountainous subequatorial. Seasonal weather changes are determined not by the temperature difference, which stays within +20 ° C throughout the year, but by the precipitation regime, most of which falls from May to October.

There are oak forests around Guatemala. Of the representatives of the fauna, foxes, coyotes, squirrels and small rodents were preserved, large animals were exterminated. The avifauna is distinguished by diversity, numbering about 2000 species of birds, including many parrots. The Guatemalans have a special relationship with the quetzal (a long-tailed bird with bright green plumage), which is a national symbol. This bird is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the country, its name is the national currency.

Old Guatemala

The territory of modern Guatemala in ancient times was inhabited by the Maya Indians, who created powerful city-states. In the western part of the modern city in ancient times there was one of the largest cities of the Mayan civilization — Kaminalhuyu, which is now almost completely hidden under modern buildings. But by the beginning of the 16th century, when the era of the Spanish conquests began, these states were already in decline. In 1524, the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado founded the city of Santiago, later renamed Guatemala. Until 1560, it was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, then part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. After the destruction by an earthquake in 1776, the settlement was transferred to the site of present-day Guatemala.

New Guatemala

In 1776 New Guatemala became the capital of the captaincy general. At the same time, the Guatemalan University of San Carlos was founded.

Since 1810, Guatemala has been the center of the struggle against the Spanish colonizers. On September 15, 1821, a meeting of eminent citizens of Guatemala adopted a declaration of independence for the country. In June 1822, Mexican troops entered the city, contributing to the annexation of the country to Mexico. However, the Mexican Empire did not last long, and in 1823 delegates from the Central American countries gathered in Guatemala to draft a constitution. On July 1 of the same year, Guatemala was declared the capital of the United Provinces of Central America, independent of Spain and Mexico.

In 1826, a civil war broke out, during which the liberal troops occupied the capital. This event entailed a reorganization of the government, reforms in education and the judiciary, as well as a boom in trade.

In 1839, the federation of provinces collapsed after a long peasant war, and Guatemala became the capital of the country of the same name. The democratic government of the country almost until the end of the 20th century was replaced by various dictatorial regimes, which negatively affected the development of the city.

The economic depression that began in the 1980s had severe social consequences for the capital and the entire country. By 1995, the housing crisis had become so severe that there was a massive squatting of buildings and land on which huts were being built. About 200 settlements of this type sprang up in and around the city.

Only by the year 2000 were Guatemala’s internal political problems finally resolved, and the capital got the opportunity to develop the most beneficial for the state as a whole at the moment, the tourism business.

Cultural value

Map of the city center (2003). The historical architecture of Old Guatemala is dominated by the Baroque style brought by the Spaniards, slightly adapted to the characteristics of the territory prone to frequent earthquakes. In the XVII-XVIII centuries, squat wide buildings with low arcades were built. The cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace can serve as striking examples of such architecture. You should also pay attention to Plaza Mayor and Minerva Park. At 1979 La Antigua was declared a World Heritage Site.

Of interest are the ruins of Kaminalhuyu, left over from ancient Maya buildings. The exposition of the National Museum of Archeology and Ethnography tells more about the culture of this people. The Museum of History and Fine Arts exhibits works by more modern masters.

Fine art traditions in Guatemala have rather deep roots. Paintings and sculptures remained from the colonial era, placed in special niches to decorate not only churches, but also houses. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mexican monumental painting had a serious influence on the artists of Guatemala, who created beautiful frescoes based on Indian folklore.

The musical and theatrical life of the capital has developed quite rapidly since the early 1930s. In 1932, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Guatemala was created, then, in 1943, the Coro Guatemala Choir, in 1948, the National Opera Group and the National School of Dance with the Ballet of Guatemala, and in 1964, the modern folk dance ballet troupe. The National Conservatory has its own symphony orchestra and military brass band.

Education in the capital can be obtained at 11 universities, including 1 national and 10 private. In addition, some Spanish universities and universities in Mexico and the United States have representation in Guatemala (mainly at the level of master’s and postgraduate studies).

Antigua

In 1524, Hernan Cortes sent a detachment from Mexico to Guatemala under the command of Pedro de Alvorado. A detachment, consisting of 300 Spaniards and many Tlaxcaltec Indians, met with the Quiche Indians and after several battles burned their capital Gumarkaai. Then the detachment entered the capital of the Kaqchikel Indians, the city of Iximche, in its place, the first capital of Guatemala appeared.

It was named Santiago de Guatemala, after Saint James, the patron saint of the conquistadors. However, the location of the first capital seemed inconvenient to the Spaniards. Therefore, in 1527, under the same name, it was transferred to the foot of the Agua Volcano, in the Almalonga Valley, to «the place where the water falls.» The initiator of the transfer of the capital was the brother of Pedro de Alvorado, Jorge. He remained in Guatemala in charge while Señor Pedro traveled to Spain.

All buildings of the city were concentrated around the central square. They were modest huts. No fortifications were built, as the inhabitants had hopes that in the event of an enemy attack, Alvorado’s army would not lose face. The first schools, hospitals, churches and monasteries were built by Indian slaves. By 1540 the city had become quite large.

Pedro de Alvorado once again went to Spain to the king. There he married a second time. His wife was the sister of his late wife, Beatrice de la Cueva. At that time she was 16 years old. A year later, she gave birth to a daughter to the conquistador. While at home, Alvorado promised King Charles V to find Spice Island in the Pacific Ocean. However, the conquistador changed his mind and decided to go in search of Cibola, the seven mystical cities that were, according to legend, in the southwest of the current United States. In Mexico, rumors reached Alvorado that his brother-in-arms, Senor Cristobal de Onate, was surrounded by natives. Alvorado went to the rescue. In the midst of the battle, the conqueror of the Indians was crushed by a dead horse. The wounded conquistador was taken to Guadalajara.

Alvorado died in June 1541. His wife, the beautiful Beatrice de la Cueva, was then only 22 years old. In memory of her husband, she ordered the royal flags to be lowered and nine days of mourning declared. What Beatrice did next did not fit in the minds of ordinary citizens at all. She covered her house with black clay inside and out, and instead of black curtains she hung blood-red ones. On the last day of mourning, the woman demanded from the city council to appoint her to her husband’s place. So Beatrice de la Cueva became the first woman governor in both Americas. True, her governorship lasted only 40 hours.

On September 10, 1541, 15 years after the founding of the city, an extinct volcano, in the crater of which the lake was located, suddenly began to erupt. A powerful stream of volcanic water washed the city off the face of the earth. Almost all the inhabitants died. In addition, Santiago de Guatemala felt several strong tremors. A terrible earthquake began. Beatrice, along with her five-year-old daughter and eleven ladies of the court, went up to the chapel of the palace. However, all their prayers for the salvation of the city were not answered. Only the cross remained from the chapel. They say that the body of the first governor’s wife rests deep underground, in a crypt, under the altar of the cathedral.

The third capital was founded in a new place, in the Panchoy valley, a few kilometers from the place where the terrible tragedy broke out. The word «Panchoy» means «valley of the lake». This should have alerted the Spaniards. In addition, the name of the city, despite the misfortunes that pursued it, did not begin to change. And, apparently, in vain. He, like his predecessors, was called Santiago de Guatemala.

New Santiago, designed for five thousand inhabitants, was built by the medieval architect Juan Batista Antonelli. To mark the streets, the Indians who built the city pulled ropes. The first buildings were more than modest. For their construction, earthen blocks were used, which were installed on a stone foundation. In 1543 the palace was built. It hosted the first meeting of the City Council. It was this year that they began to consider as the date of the foundation of the third Santiago.

The city became the capital of the captaincy general of Guatemala. This administrative entity occupied most of Central America. The most significant days of the capital were the times in which it was the political center of the entire New World and was one of the most beautiful cities in the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

In 1566 the Spanish King Philip II expanded the name of the city. Santiago de Guatemala began to be called «The very noble and very faithful city of Santiago, the knights of Guatemala.» This was a kind of act of recognition of the merits of the city before the Spanish crown. Santiago was the political and religious capital, the stronghold of Catholicism and the power of the king in New Spain. The city lived mainly by agriculture. Despite this, Santiago enjoyed success. Three monasteries for monks were built here: Santo Domingo, San Francisco and La Merced, one monastery, or convent, for nuns. After the Indians were allowed to be free in 1542, they, already for a fixed fee, built two hospitals: one for themselves, the other for the Spaniards. There were 10 religious organizations in the city, three parish churches, five buildings where hermits lived, and four city cathedrals. The population of the city has grown to 80 thousand people.

It must be said that at the time of the conquest of Guatemala, most Indians willingly accepted a new faith for them. The Indians tried to imitate the Spaniards in everything. They willingly knelt in front of the altar, repeated the words of the prayers «Ave Maria» and «Pater Noster», performed church rites, crossed themselves and insistently repeated that they wanted to become Christians. The real helpers of the priests were children who were more receptive to a foreign language. There were a lot of people at the services. Indians stood in crowds in the courtyards of churches and cloisters.

However, the Indians did not forget their old gods either. Every 20th day of the month, they held a feast dedicated to one of the demons — as the Catholic missionaries called the ancient deities. Sometimes local residents secretly made human sacrifices. The gods, for their own safety, the Indians buried at the foot of the crosses or under the slabs of the temple, so that, having come to church, with impunity to worship not saints, but idols. Over time, according to the reports of dark-skinned parishioners, all clay idols were dug up and destroyed. Having lost their shrines, the Indians began to worship the Cross and the Virgin Mary.

In the Panchoy Valley, the city existed until 1773, when it was destroyed by the Santa Marta earthquake. Almost all buildings, monasteries, architectural structures were destroyed.

After the disaster, the city authorities faced the question of whether to rebuild the city or not. Most of the residents and priests spoke in favor of restoring the ruined economy. However, the city government decided not to do this. So Santiago was abandoned by the inhabitants, though not by all. Some chose to stay. The administrative capital moved to a new location for the last time. The former name was decided not to be used anymore. The current capital of the country is called New Assumption Guatemala, or Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion. Many monuments, churches, monasteries, as well as fountains were moved to the new capital.

Over time, people have forgotten the horror experienced during the earthquake in Santiago. At the end of the 19th century, the city was partially restored. Now the former Santiago is simply called Antigua, which means «ancient.» Locals do not call their city by its old name, for fear of losing what is left of the old days when Antigua was at its zenith.

About 80 earthquakes occurred in the country in the 20th century. Most of them affected the new capital — Guatemala City. And only a small number of them reached Antigua. This fact is explained by the townspeople by the fact that regularly, from year to year, they arrange magnificent ceremonies, which people from all over the world come to see. The purpose of the ceremony is to beg forgiveness for sins and pay tribute to the higher forces on which the calm and well-being that reigns now in Antigua depend. A particularly magnificent ceremony is held at Easter. On this day, a festive procession takes place with music, mummers and dances. The participants in the procession carry sculptural images of saints through the streets, decorated with colored sawdust.

For several hours the men of the city carry a litter with saints on their shoulders. The burden is usually so heavy that sometimes even a dozen big men cannot lift it. Music is blaring everywhere. One of the most popular musical instruments is the marimba. It resembles a xylophone. It is played by two, four or more performers. The size of the marimba is also different: from small to the size of a concert grand. Under each tone, instrument makers hang a resonator made of a hollowed-out gourd or a wooden box. Thanks to such devices, the marimba is capable of producing a wide range of sounds. This musical instrument is not of local origin. He came to Guatemala from the Antilles, where, in turn, he was brought by slaves from Africa.

In the evening, at the end of the carnival procession, the litter with the saints is carried around the churches. Their removal will certainly be repeated again as soon as the time prescribed by the Catholic calendar comes.

Antigua is now home to about 50,000 carefree citizens. The old days, when hundreds and thousands of people died overnight from natural disasters, scare few people. Perhaps the Guatemalans forgot too soon about the catastrophes that haunted the «Very noble and very loyal city of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala», even if now it is simply called Antigua.

Lake Atitlán

In the mountains of Guatemala, above 3,000 thousand meters above sea level, lies the fabulously beautiful Lake Atitlán. Geologists say that 15 million years ago three volcanoes appeared here: Atitlan, San Pedro and Toliman. About 100 thousand years ago, during the eruption of one of them, a mountain lake arose. The eruption was so strong that it destroyed all life in the territory where Guatemala is located today.

Since ancient times, the shores of this miracle of nature were inhabited by tribes of Indians who wore bright clothes. The culture of the lake dwellers was different from the culture of the rest of the Indians of Guatemala. The Atitlians especially revered the gigantess Kabrakan, the goddess of earthquakes, who could uproot forests, raise cities into the air, carve fire to set fire to the earth.

Each tribe of the lake, and there were several of them, wore clothes of their own colors. They range from deep blue to purple.

Merchants from the surrounding lands, the Indians of Kakchikel and Tsutuil, sailed to Atitlan. Gold and precious stones, honey and pepper, ropes made from agave fibers, rubber and leather, the sacred kopal tree were put up for sale. The priests followed the volcanoes, which proclaimed to the peoples about war and peace. If the volcano was covered with clouds, then people could sleep peacefully, no one threatened the country. But if the fog suddenly dissipated, this meant the approach of the enemy.

The Atitlan Indians were very warlike. They used to tie captives to trees and shoot them with bows, trying not to hit their vital organs, in order to watch the agony longer.

The Spaniards came to Atitlan, knowing about the countless treasures of this land. The local cacique, the leader, received the ambassadors of Pedro de Alvarado, the conqueror of Guatemala, and immediately executed them. Legends say that on that day the volcano was freed from the veil of fog. This meant that the enemy was approaching the lake. The Spaniards marched without the sound of drums, the sound of trumpets and trampling. Their swords, armor and muskets were barely visible in the mist.

The warriors of the Blooming Land, as Atitlan was called by the conquistadors, fought for a long time. The Indians, of course, were defeated. The survivors hurried to hide their untold riches at the foot of the volcano, which, by the time the Indian cities fell, was completely cleared of fog. The Spaniards tried to swim on tree trunks to treasures piled in a heap, when suddenly an eruption began. The fiery stream blocked the way for the conquistadors. Burnt Spaniards floundered in the waves. Treasures thrown at the volcano by the Indians were buried by lava.

A beautiful legend is connected with Atitlan about a certain mestizo of low origin who fell in love with a young man from a noble family. To bewitch him, the girl had to go to bed for seven nights in the men’s suit of the «righteous.» Such costumes were worn by selected young people on St. Carmen’s Day. For seven nights men’s clothes were soaked with the girl’s sweat. Before giving the costume to her lover, she needed to see herself in a full-length mirror. The metiska did not have a large mirror. On the night before the holiday, she put on a costume intended for a noble young man and went to the lake to look into its mirror surface. The girl climbed onto a basalt block near the shore, but could not resist. The unfortunate woman drowned. And now, when the full moon is shining, the deceased appears in the mirror of the lake. Locals claim that all this is true.

The main tourist center located on the coast of Atitlán is called Panajachel, often called in a friendly short way — Pana. There are no historically valuable ruins, ruins and monuments of «deep antiquity» in Panajachel (a rare case for Guatemala). The main charm of the city is its location on the shores of a beautiful mountain lake. Therefore, tourists come here just to relax: hang around the hot streets, ride a boat on the lake, stock up on another portion of souvenirs and get acquainted with the exotic cuisine of Guatemala.

Flores

Flores is located in the Petén Plain area and is located on the island of Petén Itza. The city was built on the site of a former Mayan settlement, Tayasala. In 1697, the Spanish captured Tayasal and destroyed all the ceremonial buildings.

Now Flores is connected to the land surrounding the lake by a 500-meter paved road. The road leads to the two cities of Santa Elena and San Benito. You can walk around Flores in just 15 minutes. On a hill in the center of the city is the main square. Around it are the old church and government buildings.

Not far from Flores is the Cave of the Serpent, where you can see bizarre stalactites and stalagmites. Rent a motorboat and visit the local Petencito Zoo, the ruins of the former city of Tayasal, the cities of San Andrés and San José. To the west of the zoo is a sandy beach where you can sunbathe, swim in the lake and have a picnic.

Tikal

Tikal is one of the largest Maya settlements, the capital of the Mutul kingdom. Located in the El Peten province of Guatemala. The Indian settlement existed from the 7th century BC. e. In the 5th-9th centuries A.D. e. the city was one of the main centers of the Mayan culture. According to researchers, its population at that time ranged from 100 to 200 thousand people. By the end of the 10th century, after a series of uprisings, the city was finally abandoned by its inhabitants. The name Tikal in the Mayan language means «a place where the voices of spirits are heard.» The hieroglyphic inscriptions mention the more ancient name of the city of Yash-Mutul — «green bunch».

Tikal and its environs are included in the national park of the same name by the government of Guatemala. In 1979, the national park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Chichicastenango

In addition to Tikal, one of the most famous places associated with the Mayan Indians is the original and unique city of Chichicastenango with a colorful Indian market and the Catholic Church of St. Thomas, which was built on the foundation of the Mayan pyramid destroyed by the conquistadors.

Without exaggeration, Chichicastenango is the brightest, most original and large-scale Indian market known throughout Central America, which has not changed much over the centuries. The market is open only 2 times a week: on Thursday and Sunday. It brings together representatives of all 14 provinces of Guatemala to trade among themselves. In Chichicastenango, you can see the bright and unique colors of folk costumes, as well as buy masks, colorful fabrics, Indian bags, figurines, amulets and much more as souvenirs. All products are only handmade, using only natural dyes and age-old Mayan technologies. Without exaggeration, Chichicastenango is the brightest, most original and large-scale Indian market known throughout Central America, which has not changed much over the centuries.

The market is open only 2 times a week: on Thursday and Sunday. It brings together representatives of all 14 provinces of Guatemala to trade among themselves. In Chichicastenango, you can see the bright and unique colors of folk costumes, as well as buy masks, colorful fabrics, Indian bags, figurines, amulets and much more as souvenirs. All products are only handmade, using only natural dyes, using centuries-old Mayan technology.

The mountain lakes of Guatemala are remarkable for their crystal clearness, solitude and bright mood: these are Atitlan, Amatitlan, Ayarza, Izabal, Peten Itza and Guija, the beauty of which is complemented by the evergreen volcanoes surrounding them. These lakes attract tourists with the splendor of landscapes, pristine lush and colorful vegetation, legends associated with the history of their occurrence.

Mystical properties are attributed to all lakes: if the spirit of the lake is in a good mood, and you also radiate calmness and kindness, then it is quite possible to agree with him on the fulfillment of your desire. Many believe that this is true … A chain of small resort towns stretches along both coasts of the country, which are now in the process of rapid development.

The All-Knowing Maya

The Maya are one of the most mysterious and famous tribes of all the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Despite the fact that the history, culture and religion of the Maya originated about 4 thousand years ago, it seems that even then they knew everything about this life and this world.

The Mayan civilization is one of the few empires of the ancient world, which managed to make an unthinkable number of cultural and scientific discoveries in a short history that lasted about one and a half thousand years. The era of domination of this civilization in the territories of South and Central America was marked by the invention of a writing system, complex architecture, a calendar system, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, religion and a number of other equally important discoveries.

The brilliant culture of the ancient Maya, which flourished in the II-IX centuries. AD, has long attracted the attention of scientists. The ancient chronicles reflect some facts that testify to the high level of technological and social development of the Mayan people.

It is known that the Maya traded extensively, exchanging salt, cocoa and obsidian for other household items. In addition, research shows that the Maya were excellent farmers who developed agricultural systems and technologies that were well ahead of their time.

Mayan applied art also reflects their high development and is considered the most advanced in comparison with other peoples of the era. They paid much attention to the issues of chronology and chronology.

Special hieroglyphs for the planets, the North Star and a number of constellations have been found in various Maya inscriptions. In one of the found manuscripts, even a list of upcoming solar eclipses has been preserved.

Maya astronomical observations were carried out in structures that resemble the towers of modern observatories. The priests at their observatories — platforms located on the flat tops of grandiose stepped pyramids tens of meters high — constantly watched the sky. They believed that all phenomena on Earth and in the state are determined by its laws, which are reflected in the Mayan lunar calendar.

The Maya attached special importance to solar eclipses and the movement of moving luminaries-planets, which were credited with a great influence on the life and affairs of people and the state as a whole. The Mayan priests, using the ancient calendar, predicted happy or unlucky days for certain actions from the heavenly bodies — and not for individuals, but for certain social strata or age groups of the population.

The only means by which the ancient Maya observed the night sky was with their own eyes, with which they looked at the stars through narrow and long slits in the walls of the temples. And at the same time, they were able to calculate with amazing accuracy the duration of the revolution of the Moon around the Earth — 29.53053 days (modern value 29.530588) — and the duration of the solar year — 365.2420 days (modern value 365.2421).

According to these indicators, the Mayan lunar calendar surpasses the Gregorian one in accuracy. Without any computers, telescopes and chronometers, the ancient Maya developed complex and perfect time tables.

Turns out they used three calendars! The Tzolkin calendar consisted of 260 days, Tun — of 360, Haab — of 365. Tzolkin — the calendar of the sun, for religious rites. Tun is an annalistic calendar and was used for chronology. Finally, Haab — a lunar calendar, a table of counting days — was used in ordinary, everyday life.

Years were divided into months of 20 days each. The number system was also interesting — twenty-digit. Most likely, the basis of such a reference system was the fact that a person has 20 fingers on his hands and feet.

All these calendars were very accurate. The errors accumulating over time were calculated in advance, and the necessary amendments were made to the calendars. The calendars depended on each other, as did the Mayan civilization on the Mayan calendar.

In addition to Tzolkin, Thun and Haab, the Maya used the calendar of the planet Venus. This is another Mayan mystery. Venus was very important for the ancient peoples of Central America. Mayan astronomers calculated the time after which the planet will return to a given point for an earthly observer — 584 days. For comparison: the result obtained with the help of modern telescopes, satellites and supercomputers is 583.92 days.

When European astronomy and astrology were only in their infancy, the Maya Indians already used their knowledge of space to immerse themselves in the world of the future and study the mysteries of today. Not surprisingly, Mayan horoscopes are considered the most accurate astrological instruments.

Individual horoscopes according to the Mayan calendar can be compiled even today. They help to understand oneself, to realize the deep processes that form the personality and destiny, to get a detailed description of the character and behavior of a person. Ancient knowledge enables its owner to assess the abilities, inclinations and potential inherent in us since birth, and to open the veil of secrecy behind which the events of the future and the present are hidden.

What is our karmic debt? What about the true purpose? What influence can a name or, say, the colors that surround us have on our destiny? How to achieve harmony with ourselves and those around us? P.