- Title: GUATEMALA: Mayans unite ahead of calendar end
- Date: 21st December 2012
- Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (DECEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) VIEW OF VOLCANO ON OUTSKIRTS OF GUATEMALA CITY VARIOUS OF GUATEMALAN MAYANS PERFORMING "LAST SUN" RITUAL CEREMONY MORE OF VOLCANO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN MAYAN, ANDRE ROXCHET CHAVAJAY, SAYING: "For us it is a very important celebration where we should unite together to reflect about our lives, our existence in a special way to return the cultural identity so that every people can identify themselves according to their ancestral values, that they can bring multiculturalism to the world, to the country." VARIOUS OF INDIGENOUS MAYA DURING RITUAL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPIRITUAL GUIDE, FELIPE GOMEZ, SAYING: "Human beings have to decide if they want to continue in this situation we are in. To be a whole human being, we need to respect the land, respect the forests, respect the mountains, the rivers. the lakes, the lagoons, the oceans. That is to say, human beings cannot exist without the existence of these elements." VARIOUS OF INDIGENOUS MAYA PERFORMING CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 5th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Guatemala
- Country: Guatemala
- Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA5CBPC1G9T9LY1DHDTZ42L875R
- Story Text: The Guatemalan descendants of the ancient Maya converged on the ruins of Kaminaljuyu on Thursday (December 21) for the traditional "Last Sun" ceremony to welcome the dawning of the start of the new Mayan calendar on Friday (December 21).
December 21 marks the end of an age in a 5,125 year-old Maya calendar - an event variously interpreted as the end of days or just an excuse for a party.
For many indigenous Maya, the end of calendar count, which began in 3,114 BCE and is divided into roughly 394-year periods called Baktuns, is an occasion for hope. Mayans held the number 13 sacred and the 13th Baktunon the 21st.
Andre Roxchet Chavajay of the Tzutuil Mayan community told Reuters the event is an opportunity for the country's indigenous to unite and remember their ancestral roots and traditions.
"For us it is a very important celebration where we should unite together to reflect about our lives, our existence in a special way to return the cultural identity so that every people can identify themselves according to their ancestral values, that they can bring multiculturalism to the world, to the country," she said.
Dominating the region for some 2,000 years before mysteriously abandoning their cities around 900 CE, the Mayans built soaring temples and elaborate palaces amidst lush jungles from modern day Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Sharply attuned to their environment, the ancient civilisation developed sophisticated methods of food production and tracked the movements of astrological bodies.
Spiritual leader Felipe Gomez said modern day humans should look to the ancient Maya as a model for coexistence with nature.
"Human beings have to decide if they want to continue in this situation we are in. To be a whole human being we need to respect the land, respect the forests, respect the mountains, the rivers. the lakes, the lagoons, the oceans. That is to say, human beings cannot exist without the existence of these elements," he said.
Guatemala is preparing for a tourism windfall ahead of the calendar end, readying large scale celebrations for the throngs of international tourists expected to converge on its ancient sites for the occasion.
However, some indigenous Mayans have criticised the commemorations saying popular doomsday theories surrounding the event have little to do with ancient Maya culture. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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