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In Guatemala, indigenous people of Mayan descent make up almost 50% of the population, concentrated in the mountains and rural areas.
This is the country with the largest indigenous community in all of Central and South America.
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The Maya of today have preserved to a great extend the culture of their ancestors: languages, clothing, rituals and beliefs; the vital connection to land and nature.
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Chac-Uayab-Xoc: the Great Demon Shark
Corn and fish are the main food source of the Mayan Q’eqchi communities we met on the shores of Lake Izabal.
For thousands of years the Mayans worshiped the maize god; they believed their ancestors were made from maize.
They also had a fish-god.
Chac-Uayab-Xoc, also known as the Great Demon Shark, is the protector of fish and patron of fisherman. He feeds off the bodies of drowned fishermen, but ensures that the fishermen have good catches.
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Photos by Mira
The Mayans of Guatemala are the only indigenous culture that constitutes a majority of the population in a Central American republic. – See more at: http://www.minorityrights.org/2555/guatemala/maya.html#sthash.7kI5NaZ4.dpuf
The Mayans of Guatemala are the only indigenous culture that constitutes a majority of the population in a Central American republic. – See more at: http://www.minorityrights.org/2555/guatemala/maya.html#sthash.7kI5NaZ4.dpuf
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great photos, Mira!
Thanks David!
Wow. Amazing. They are beautiful.
Can’t wait to return. Plan is mid-late January, Duncan’s birthday 1st of Feb, no better place to turn 40!
Hope you’ll be around still to teach us a little of what you’ve learned?
Did you catch a fish there yet? We never had any luck during our short stay; not since just off Livingston.
Ruth
Guys, so nice to hear from you!!!! How is cold England? We are planning to spend a few weeks on the Bahamas, but will return to Rio by the end of February, unless something happens and the plan changes….But we will return for sure, if not February, March. We will miss the B-day party though… Still, hope to see you there! What was your blog? Can you share it here, please.
p.s. we didn’t fish in the lake. The only time we had fish was when our indigenous friends invited us for supper. We ate tortillas and fish, pretty much what they eat every day. it was wonderful!
It’s http://www.impetuoustoo.blogspot.com
We’ve been bad and not updated it since we left the Rio but we’ll be back on it in January. We left our camera on Impetuous so didn’t have a camera to log our fun trip overland to Mexico. Looking forward to the return leg!
Ruth and Dunc