Guatemala: The Mayans
(B. Pagel)
I?d like to know,
Which aspects of the Guatemalan culture are vestiges of the mayan culture? The majority of cultures are a mix of other cultures and Guatemala has a history of many different influences. Since the arrival of the Spanish, Mayan culture has changed and has mixed with that of the Spanish. Today, Guatemalans have a culture that incorporates both indigenous and Spanish aspects. We can see Mayan influences in the language, religion, the clothing, and crafts. Today,
There are approximately 6 million Mayans in Mexico, Guatemala, Beliz, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Guatemala there are two kinds of Mayans: the Quichés and the Cakchiqueles. Of that population, 43% is wholly Maya and 55% is of mixed descent. There are 21 Mayan languages recognised by the government and only the Spanish language is a result of the Spanish conquest. Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Mayans practiced an indigenous religion. Followers venerated thr Earth and considered agriculture to be of preimary importance. The Spanish forced the Mayans to practice Catholicism. To avoid persecution, the Mayans adopted Catholicism but kept vestiges of the indigenous religion. One example is Maximón, a mix of Saint Simon and a Mayan god. In addition, the Mayans who live in mountain regions continue to wear their brightly coloured traditional clothing. Finally, Mayas make local crafts to sell in large cities. In conclusion, Mayans are part of the Guatemalan culture in every way. For my letter, I wanted the class to understand how the Mayans have incorporated themselves into the Spanish culture. I read some books about Guatemala and I have investigated on the Internet.
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