TODOS SANTERO MAM

THERE ARE ABOUT 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE BY HUEHUETANGO IN NORTHWEST GUATEMALA. ABOUT 30,000 ARE LIVING HERE WHO SPEAK THE MAM LANGAGE. THEY LIVE IN A STEEP VALLEY OF ABOUT 2500 M IN THE CHURHUAMATAN MTNS. THE TOWN IS A 2 HOUR RIDE BY BUS FROM THE CAPITAL. THEY LIVE PARTIAL TROPICAL RAIN FOREST. THEY HAVE A RAINY SEASON. - THAT LASTS FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER. THEY ARE HARD WORKING AND SELF RELIANT.

MANY OF THEM ARE QUITE FLUENT IN SPANISH. MANY HAVE MOVED TO THE U.S. FOR WORK. THE WOMAN ARE EXCELLENT WEAVERS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IS THEIR ART. THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL TEXTILES. FOR THE TOURISTS AND THEIR TOWN. THEY ARE ALSO DEVOTED MOTHERS AND ARE INSEPARABLE, WITH THEIR INFANTS. THEY COOK, TEND ANIMALS AND DO OTHER CHORES. MEN CHROCHET HANDBAGS. ONMARKET DAYS THE FAMILIES HIKE 5 HOURS ACROSS RUGGED LAND IN 3500M IN ELEVATION TO THEIR CAPITAL. THEY PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE FROM THE LOWLANDS - COFFEE, BANANAS, AND POTATOES. ELEMENTS OF THE MAYAN COSMOLOGY PROVIDE 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 RACE THAT IS THE DUAL POINT OF THE CEREMONIES. THE SPIRIT OF THE ANCESTORS ARE HONORED IN THE CEMETERY. THEY DANCE WITH THE MARIMBA, FEAST AND ENTERTAINMENT.

THERE ARE LEAST TWO RUINS IN THE MUNICIPALITY. THEY MAY HAVE HAD MORE HISTORY. COSTUME CEREMONIES ARE SOMETIMES HELD IN STILL HELD NEXT THE OTHER CROSSES. SOME FOLKSA ARE OK WITH HAVING THEIR PHOTOS TAKEN IN SPITE OF MODERATE BEHAVIOR OF TOURISTS, THEY ASK TOURESTS TO GET TO KNOW THEM BEFORE ASKING PERMISSION FOR THEIR PHOTO. THEY APPRECIATE BEING SENT A COPY OF THEIR PHOTO. THEY ARE WORKING TO OBTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE LIBRARY.

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