Guatemala~ Maximon~ The Smoking Drinking God

Here's one God I wanted to find out more about, he loves to smoke cigars, drink whiskey and enjoys glitz and blazing offerings. In the highlands of Guatemala he is a favorite Mayan deity. He seems to be a deity morphed from Maya gods, catholic saints, and Spanish conquistadors; needless to say the catholic church is not too keen on his popularity.

Each village has their own effigy of Maximon which is hosted by a different Mayan family each year, either in their home or nearby church. Villagers seek out Maximon's help in times of need whether it be poor health, love lost or found, a better crop, or a nasty enemy that needs a hex. Different colored candles indicate the different needs, the black candles are for the hex's.

Enterprising vendors are always there to help facilitate all your offering needs. You can even buy a Maximon effigy for yourself but only one is the official Maximon in the village.

Outside the church offerings are assembled with candles, cigars, whiskey, coke, candy, and a generous sprinkling of sugar before being ignited. At that point the shaman and family pray, sing and dance around the offering. Once the ritual is completed the host shaman is paid for his efforts and the safe keeping of Maximon which of course includes the side benefits of drinking the whiskey and smoking the cigars.

Guatemala~Weekend in the Park

Since we have been serious ‘estudiantes’ our playtime has been limited to the weekends. Here in Antigua it is springtime in November and similar to June in the states there are lots of weddings, fiestas, and weekend markets.

The Parque Central is party central with lots of photo opportunities.

Our favorites: Architectural details, kids, colorful Mayan women, brides in ruins, Ronald McDonald, fun sculpture, confusing contemporary images of Jesus and of course we assumed it was his large foot with the nail in it. Now as we are approaching Christmas the decorations are starting to appear, don’t throw away that old tire just add some silver paint and an old wine bottle and hang it on the front door. Be the envy of all your neighbors.

Guatemala~ Day of the Dead~ November 1

Halloween does not hold a candle to the celebrations here for the ‘Día de los Muertos’. It’s a national holiday where the entire country starts the day in the cemetery to clean, whitewash, light candles and decorate the family graves. Enterprising venders sell candy, plastic flowers, ladders for rent or whatever one might need for grave enhancement.

Later in the afternoon we followed the festivities to Santiago Sacatepéquez a small town with a big name a few miles outside of Antigua. This is where the annual festival of kites is held. Think Big Kites! These kites have been in the making for months and the competition for the biggest and best is awe inspiring. Belief has it that the prayers for the dead are carried by the kites directly to heaven. Therefore it seems logical that the festival must take place in the cemetery. Remember all that careful tending to the graves earlier in the morning? Dust, all gone to dust by the afternoon as everyone tramples and tears across the graves to fly there huge kites. The height of sacrilege? Maybe to us but not to anyone here, they were all having a great time.