TODOS SANTERO MAM

THERE ARE 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GUATEMALA BY HUEHUETENANGO IN NORTHWESTERN GUATEMALA. ABOUT 30,000 ARE LIVING HERE WHO SPEAK THE MAM LANGUAGE. THEY LIVE IN A STEEP VALLEY OF ABOUT 2500 M IN THE CHUCHUMATAN MOUNTAINS. THE TOWN IS TWO HOURS FROM THE CAPITAL. THEY LIVE IN PARTIAL TROPICAL RAIN FOREST. THEY HAVE A RAINY SEASON THAT LASTS FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER. THEY ARE HARD WORKING AND SELF RELIANT. MANY OF THE MARE QUITE FLUENT IN SPANISH. MANY MOVE TO THE U.S. TO FIND WORK. THE WOMEN ARE EXCELLENT WEAVERS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND THEIR ART IS CREATIVE. THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL TEXTILES FOR THE TOURISTS AND THEIR TOWN. THEY ARE ALSO DEVOTED MOTHERS WHO ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THEIR INFANTS. THEY COOK, TEND ANIMALS, AND DO OTHER CHORES. MEN CHROCHET HANDBAGS. MEN GROW CORN, POTATOES, BEANS, AND SQUASH AND HALL WOOD. MOST PEOPLE ARE IN EXCEPTIONAL PHYSICAL SHAPE. THEY HAVE RIGOROUS ROUTINES. ON MARKET DAYS THEY HIKE 4 TO 5 MILES HOURS ACROSS RUGGED TERRAIN IN 3500 M IN ELEVATION TO THE CAPITAL. THEY PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE FROM THE LOLANDS (COFFE, BANANAS, AND POTATOES). ELEMENTS OF MAYAN COSMOLOGY PERVADE EVERYDAY LIFE BUT THEIR CEREMONIES ARE LESS OFTEN USED.

THE CITY IS FAMOUS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF ALL SAINTS DAY IN NOVEMBER. THEY HAVE A HORSE RACETHAT IS IN NOVEMBER. THEY HAVE A HORSE RACE THAT IS THE HIGH POINT OF THE CEREMONIES. THE SPIRITS OF THE ANCESTORS ARE HONORED IN THE CEMETERY.THEY DANCE WITH THE MARIMBA, FOODS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO RUINS IN THE MUNICIPALITY. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE THE SPANISH. THERE ARE TWO RUINS IN THE MUNICIPALITY. COSTUME CEREMONIES ARE STILL SOMETIMES HELD NEXT TO THE ALTAR THE OTHER CROSSES.

SOME FOLKS ARE OK WITH HAVING THEIR PHOTO TAKEN IN SPITE OF INCONSIDERATE BEHAVIOR OF TOURISTS. THEY ASK TOURISTS TO GET TO KNOW THEM BEFORE ASKING PERMISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM. THEY APPRECIATE BEING SENT A COPY OF THEIR PHOTO. THEY ARE WORKING TO OBTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE LIBRARY.

STETSON/EDU