The Mayans: a rich culture

In this vlog I am going to teach you various topics about Mayan culture, since I find it very interesting and they have left us a valuable legacy. Let's start by talking about who they are and their origins.

Their history:

It is believed to have first appeared between 7000 and 2000 BC, when hunter-gatherers abandoned nomadic customs and established more permanent settlements. Recent analysis indicates that these early settlers came from South America and probably developed their staple food, maize, around 4000 BC. The cultivation of maize radically changed the trajectory of the Maya and exponentially accelerated their society and culture.

These newcomers not only planted corn: they also learned to prepare it for human consumption through the nixtamalization method, where dried corn is soaked and then boiled in an alkaline solution that softens the corn and makes it more digestible. The Maya continued to cultivate other important vegetables such as squash and yucca.

It appears that the Maya developed alongside the Olmec civilization, which some believe was one of the most influential societies in ancient times, and had an exchange of ideas with them. It is believed that at that time researchers claim that the Maya adopted the complex rituals that would later make them famous. As the Olmec did, the Maya also quickly focused on building cities around their sacred sites. The Preclassic period of the Maya, between 1500 and 200 B.C., is recognized for advances in agriculture and urban development.

Throughout the process of building their society, the Maya established the foundations of diverse trade networks, advanced irrigation techniques, water purification and agricultural methods, warfare practices, sporting activities, writing systems and a complex calendar. In the complicated calendar, three dating systems were employed: one for the gods, another for civil life and a third astronomical calendar popularly known as the Long Count. The beginning of this third calendar was set at the historic date of the formation of human civilization, August 11, 3114 BC. In December 2012, the Long Count calendar began a new cycle and this generated the myth that the world would come to an end on that date. Despite urban legends and misinterpretations of Mayan tradition, the calendar cycle change did not result in the end of the world.

Political and social organization:

During the Postclassic period, the Maya were divided into several urban centers, which were led by noble families that constantly clashed in conflicts. However, the decline of Chichén Itzá around the year 1200 was the starting point for the emergence of the dominion of the city of Mayapán, which lasted until 1450. Mayapán was able to consolidate its power by establishing an intricate network of marital alliances with numerous subjugated cities. In order to secure the loyalty of the regional noble families, the most prominent members of these families were brought to reside in Mayapán.

At the apex of Mayapán was the famous Halach Uinic, a kind of supreme leader known as "king, emperor, monarch, prince or great lord", as testified by the Maya themselves. His responsibilities were to formulate both foreign and domestic policy, with the assistance of a council made up of the most important leaders of the villages, priests and special advisors. In addition, he held the position of highest religious authority. Under the dominion of Halach Uinic, there was a team of officials in charge of administering rigorous justice, collecting taxes from the peasants and supervising the activities of the population. After the fall of Mayapán, the structure of domination collapsed and the Maya were divided into different political groupings once again.

Maya society during the Postclassic period was structured in a hierarchy in which four social classes could be identified: nobility, priesthood, commoners and slaves. Regarding the nobility, local chiefs, council members and high officials came from noble families. Because of the importance of warfare in these centuries, military chiefs played a key role, unlike in the Classic Maya period. However, the priests, who had held political power in the Classic period, now devoted themselves mainly to the maintenance of temples, religious life and, especially, the sciences.

The population was mainly composed of peasants whose main occupation was the cultivation of corn. In addition, there were a large number of weavers and potters. Through their labor, they supported the higher social classes and built all the centers of worship and cobblestone roads that linked the main cities. The townspeople tended to reside in the peripheral areas of the cities, and their place in the social hierarchy was determined by the proximity of their home to the main square. In this society, slaves were considered the bottom rung and obtained their status in various ways, whether by birth, being victims of theft, being captured in war, being orphaned, or being acquired through a purchase transaction.

How did they dress?

Mayan woman: in Maya mythology, we can find multiple mentions of the traditional costumes they used. Taking into account an illustrative case, it can be mentioned that several divinities used to use looms to carry out their creations, where the fabrics were gifts given by the Moon goddess, Ixchel, to women.
Among the traditional garments used were loincloths, skirts and skirts, which were adjusted at the waist. Sandals, ribbons and shin guards are items designed to protect and adorn the feet. The article mentions the different garments and accessories for the chest, back, shoulders and neck. Decorative elements for the arms and torso are also alluded to. In addition, hats, crowns and headbands can also be found.

Maya women used various materials such as hides, cotton, fabrics, skins, wooden ornaments, seeds, feathers, bones and precious stones to create their garments. Due to the deep respect the Maya had for nature, they obtained all the necessary elements to manufacture from it.

Maya women used various materials such as hides, cotton, fabrics, skins, wooden ornaments, seeds, feathers, bones and precious stones to create their garments. Due to the deep respect the Maya had for nature, they obtained all the necessary elements to manufacture from it.

Upper class: nobles wore garments adorned with feathers or stones, wore wide belts, wore leather sandals and displayed gold jewelry. Some people wore head ornaments to stand out, such as headbands, scarves or hats. 

Government leaders wore conical caps and luxurious crowns made of gold, quartz and jade. Meanwhile, warriors adorned themselves with medals and ornaments made from bones. As for the nobles, they decorated their garments with animal skins. They mainly used yellow and blue tones.

Working class: generally, the lower classes focused on agriculture, so they wore a short skirt known as "patí" to be able to move easily in the fields, and kept their torso uncovered. Some workers wore their patí loincloths with elaborate colorful embroidery.

Meanwhile, women wore long skirts and loose cotton shirts (called huipiles) and adorned their shoulders with colorful scarves. Also, sandals were different from the men's, as they were made of deerskin and were thinner.

Both men and women sometimes painted themselves: women painted their faces and men painted their skin black until they married.

What were their beliefs?

The Mayans were polytheistic, therefore, they had many temples dedicated to their gods.Their main deities were Hunab Ku and Itzamná. Although they also had other gods representing nature such as the sky, death, the sun, corn, among others. The Mayans believed in minor gods and guardian spirits who, in addition to the main gods, influenced various aspects of daily life. Each person had his or her own protector god, to whom they worshipped and offered tribute. The origin of all Maya rituals was found in mythology.

Like the Christian and many others, the Maya were also based on the conflict between good and evil, but with the particularity that both had a divine nature, as in the Christian faith. The two powers were in constant conflict, but always as enemies that were connected.

Gods associated with good brought benefits such as rain and abundant harvests, while deities connected with evil brought disasters, famines and other misfortunes.

The Mayans also believed in the meaning of colors. According to Maya cosmogony, yellow symbolized the serpents associated with the underworld and the deceased, and also represented the connection with corn and its importance in food. On the other hand, the color blue was exclusive to the gods as it symbolized the sky, rivers, seas and lakes.

 

Religious offerings were of great importance to the Maya, as they offered their gods a wide range of objects. The Maya believed that the gods required these objects to ensure the continued functioning of the universe, so they offered them the best of their possessions.
The Maya used to make offerings to their gods, including a wide range of objects such as jewelry, food, as well as gold and silver objects. In addition, animals such as deer, jaguars and birds were presented to the gods. Occasionally, the Maya would offer human beings, such as children or prisoners of war, to the gods.

The priests were the supreme leaders of the pre-Columbian religion. It was their responsibility to understand and explain the reason behind situations, and also to direct the ritual and religious ceremonies of the Maya civilization. The Mayan religion faithfully reflected their beliefs through a mythology deeply rooted in popular culture. In this way, their religious practices acted as a means for men to communicate with the underworld.

Sacrifices in the Maya religion had a symbolic and spiritual meaning of great importance. They symbolized rebirth and the continuity of life in nature, as well as loyalty and devotion to the gods. The ancient Maya believed that by making offerings of value to their gods, they were cementing a sacred and mutual connection.
Additionally, human sacrifices were believed to be a way of establishing a direct connection with the divine, an action that went beyond the earthly and united people with the spiritual. Through such rituals, the Maya sought to ensure the fertility of the soil, the protection of their community and cosmic balance.

The Maya calendar had a much broader function than simply measuring time. The Maya saw manifestation as a result of divine and cosmic order. Using their understanding of astronomy, they created multiple calendars, including the Tzolkin and the Haab, which combined to form a cycle of time considered sacred. 

The Tzolkin was a 260-day cycle that was linked to divination and religious practices. Each day was considered to have a name and a number, with the belief that it exerted a specific influence on people's lives and world events. The Maya followed the Tzolkin to direct their rituals and religious ceremonies. This calendar guided all their ceremonial activities. 

In addition, the Haab was a 365-day calendar based on the sun that was used to control agricultural work and establish the appropriate times for sowing and harvesting. This calendar was used in rituals and ceremonies that were linked to fertility and abundance. The connection between the two calendars was fundamental for the development of Maya religious practices. 

Their traditions:

The Pau Puul Ceremony: this ritual, which is still alive in Mayan communities, is performed on June 24th to pray for rain. The morning begins with the children collecting animals such as reptiles associated with water and placing them in different containers.
After this, the individuals congregate and break the vessels, generating a roar similar to thunder. This is why "Pa Puul" means "breaking crockery"; the ancient Maya believed that this helped to attract the much needed rains.

Worship of the cenotes: the ancient Maya knew that under the cenotes, whose name in Mayan means "hole in the water", rivers flowed. For them, this symbolized a path leading to the "Xilbabá", the underworld, where they believed the souls of the deceased traveled before reaching paradise.
Because of their sacred importance to the Maya, these places were selected to perform a variety of rituals related to life and death, rain, rebirth and fertility.

Ball game: (in Nahuatl: tlachtli or ollamalistli, in Classic Mayan: pitz) this game was played in different courts located in different parts of Mexico such as Quintana Roo and Yucatan. For the Maya, this game was something divine and was practiced in daily life as well as during religious celebrations. It consisted of throwing a 3 kg ball without legs, arms or head. In the game, there were two teams of 7 people who had to throw the ball into stone hoops placed at the end of the wall. The losers in the game were offered as sacrifices to the gods. There was also the possibility that certain prisoners of war were sacrificed inside the prison camps. The Maya considered this game of great importance, as it symbolized the eternal struggle between the opposing forces of the universe, representing the constant confrontation between good and evil. In the game, the players of both teams tried to hit a rubber ball, called KIK', made from the sap of a rubber tree.

Hanal Pixan: is a traditional Mayan celebration that honors the deceased. It is a tradition that continues to be practiced in Mayan communities, celebrated from October 31 to November 2. Hanal Pixan, which translates as "food of the souls", is celebrated with offerings and altars illuminated with wax candles. Typical food such as pibes and mucbipollos, sweet bread, and fruits such as jicama and mandarin, among others, are included. The offering includes flowers, candles, branches of rue and the photograph of loved ones who passed away before us. The tradition is carried out by the people of the Mayan villages due to their belief that during these days the deceased have the opportunity to visit their loved ones. 

The Sac Ha Ceremony: mayan farmers have celebrated this ceremony since ancient times.
In this festivity, a sacred drink is made from cooked corn, crushed and combined with water from a cave or the morning dew. The Sac Ha (white water) is placed on a special altar with four stones in each corner symbolizing the four cardinal points, and a stone in the center representing the connection between earth and sky. Today, the Mayan people continue to maintain this tradition, passing it from one generation to the next, as they believe that if it is not carried out, the earth will lose its harmony.

The Hetzmek ceremony: today, the tradition of a type of Mayan baptism is still observed, in which boys are given at 4 months of age and girls at 3 months. This ritual marks the beginning of a new stage, where the godfather lights a candle and holds the baby while receiving various objects given by the leader of the ceremony. The godfather must help the baby hold everything and then the ceremony concludes with the ceremonial meal laid out on a table.

Where do they live?

Today, the Maya people continue living in various parts of Mexico (Yucatan, Chiapas), Guatemala and Honduras, with a population of over 2 million people.

Maya houses were simple buildings made of local materials such as stone, adobe and wood. The constructions were built using a system of pillars and beams, and were protected with palm or thatched roofs. Maya houses were divided into two categories: the residences of the elite and the houses of the general population. 

The residences of the elite were spacious, with multiple rooms, courtyards and gardens. The houses had frescoes and stelae as decoration. In contrast, the dwellings of the common people were modest, with one or two rooms and a kitchen.
The houses in Maya cities were all close together, forming streets or plazas. Buildings were constructed on terraces, with the largest dwellings located on the upper terraces.
The Maya also built houses in rural areas, using local materials such as stone, mud and palm. These houses were simple and small in size, designed to provide shelter for peasants and their families.
In conclusion, Maya houses were simple constructions made with materials available in the region, and their design varied according to the social class and the place where they were located.

 

 What did they eat? 

At mealtime, the men ate first in private, followed by the women.
Corn was the most important food in the diet of the Maya. A variety of foods could be prepared with it, such as tortillas, porridge and even drinks. In addition, beans, squash and chili peppers were grown as staple crops.
The Maya introduced several novel foods to the world, but perhaps the most fascinating was chocolate, which came from the cacao tree. Tomatoes, potatoes, black beans and papaya were added to the list of new foods.
Corn was their main product and they believed that mankind came from corn dough. This civilization harvested four varieties of corn: white, yellow, red and black.
Most of the dishes had corn in them. It was mainly used to make tortillas, tamales, atol, pozol and breads.
The Mayans also used to cultivate other products besides corn, such as avocado, beans and cocoa.
As for meat, they rarely used it and obtained animals through domestication, fishing and hunting.
The meat they consumed was based mainly on lobster, shrimp, rabbit, deer, armadillo, monkey, turkey, pork and even dog.

In terms of beverages, the Maya culture mixed water with ingredients such as chocolate or corn to prepare a variety of milkshakes that could be consumed hot or cold.

Maya cuisine includes the following traditional dishes:

 
Chocolate: known as a divine gift, was consumed as a ceremonial elixir without sugar or milk.
Avocados and guacamole: were highly revered by the ancient Maya.
Kaq'ik y tiu: is a dish consisting of a spicy turkey soup, which is served with rice, tortillas or tamales. Today, the food is recognized as one of Guatemala's culinary specialties.
Tamales: are a very significant food in the Mayan culture. It is considered an essential part of daily meals, as well as celebrations and festivities. Tamales are prepared using a flour dough, which is filled with meat or vegetables and wrapped in corn husks (they are steamed).
Corn tortillas: are another iconic dish of the Maya, and were considered the staple of their diet. This famous corn mixture can be used as a side dish or as a spread with other foods such as beans or guacamole.
Pescado a la tikin xic: To make this dish, the fish needs to be coated with a mixture of achiote paste and spices before grilling.
Cochinita pibil: is a very peculiar dish, as it is cooked in an oven underground.

Language and writing:

The Mayan language, also known as Yucatec Mayan, is the native language of the Yucatan Peninsula, located in southern Mexico in the states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche. This language is part of the Mayan language group, which is spoken in Belize, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico, and is the most important linguistic family in Mesoamerica. 

In Mexico, Mayan is the second most spoken indigenous language after Nahuatl. 

In the Mayan language, speakers refer to their language as maaya t'aan, which translates as "the one who speaks Mayan". The indigenous group refers to themselves as Maya' winik, which translates as Maya man.

These are some variants of the Mayan language: huasteco1, maya (yucateco), lacandón, ch'ol.
chontal de Tabasco, tseltal, tsotsil, Q'anjob'al.   

The Mayans used hieroglyphs as their writing system. The symbols consisted of pictograms that represented concrete objects and ideograms that expressed abstract concepts such as actions, ideas and syllabic sounds.

 

Mayan family:

The importance of the family according to Maya tradition is unquestionable, as they consider children as a divine gift. For the Maya, parenthood is seen as a blessing and they consider that the more children they have, the better. This belief is reflected in the way the Maya family is structured. Maya families tend to be large, with several children and varying degrees of kinship.

The Maya family followed a patrilineal system, in which ancestry was established through the male line.

For them, sex was a natural expression and a way to create connections. The idea of "chastity" or "virginity" had no meaning in Maya culture, and it is believed that women were free to have sex with whomever and whenever they chose. It was not seen as essential to be married in order to have sex, and couples were free to separate at any time.
There has long been speculation about Maya practices with babies. Some say they sacrificed them, while others claim they raised them as if they were animals. It is not really known for sure what they did with the babies, but there are some theories.
One theory suggests that the Maya performed baby sacrifices. The Mayan belief was based on the idea that babies were innocent beings and that by sacrificing them, they went directly to heaven. Another theory suggests that the Maya raised babies in a similar way as they raise animals. This is based on the strong reverence the Maya had for nature and their belief that babies were an integral part of nature.

Treatment of women:

Although the number of women in Maya society is not known precisely, it is thought that women played a significant role in the family and in religion.
In the past, married women had the responsibility of taking care of household chores and caring for children, while men were dedicated to working in the fields and hunting.
Despite not having a public participation comparable to that of men, women were respected and considered sacred beings. In the Maya religion, goddesses personified the feminine aspects of divinity and were venerated as protectors of life and death.
Maya women were seen as beings with magical and healing abilities, who were recognized as having special powers. It is thought that Maya women had the ability to heal illnesses, glimpse the future and communicate with the spirits.

Maya women focused on fulfilling their roles as housewife, wife and mother, taking care of children's education, food and clothing preparation, household maintenance and animal husbandry.

 However, some women managed to excel in other areas, such as medicine or religion.

At a minimum, each woman was married to 5 men and each man had 5 women.
Women play a crucial role in Maya culture as they are seen as the creators of life.
In earlier times, they served in high-level leadership positions and a system of government headed by women predominated.
Today, however, many of these traditions have undergone changes. The Maya also face problems such as domestic violence and the difficulty for women to access leadership positions.  

Their economy:

The economy of the Maya civilization was based on agriculture, handicraft production and trade. Agriculture included the cultivation of corn, beans and chili peppers, while craft production included weaving, ceramics, metals and jewelry. Likewise, the Maya carried out a thriving system of trade at the local and regional level, which involved the exchange of diverse goods and products.

The Maya also employed irrigation systems for crop maintenance, and carried out sustainable agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and organic fertilization, in order to preserve soil fertility.
In the Maya economy, currency was not used. Instead, objects of exchange such as seashells, cacao, precious stones, among others, were used. In addition, a barter system was used to facilitate trade.

From a political point of view, the leaders of the city-states and wealthy landowners were in control of the Maya economy. These leaders played a crucial role in coordinating major construction projects and managing natural resources.  

Cultivated foods played a fundamental role in the Maya economy, as they were necessary for both local sustenance and commercial exchange. The religious and social life of the Maya was significantly influenced by agricultural products, which were used as offerings and in religious rituals. 

The Mayans also mastered horticulture, cultivating a great diversity of plants, flowers and fruit trees to beautify their dwellings and temples, as well as for use in religious ceremonies.

Trade played a crucial role in the Maya economy, taking place both locally and interregionally. The Maya civilization had a highly developed trade system, which consisted of trade routes, exchange markets and a great diversity of available products.
Food, textiles, metals, precious stones, spices, jungle products and, of course, cacao, were the most commonly traded products. Different types of coins, such as precious stones and cocoa discs, were used to expedite trade.
The Maya were not only involved in trade with other pre-Columbian cultures, such as the Teotihuacan and Toltec, but also facilitated the distribution of goods and knowledge throughout the Mesoamerican region.

In the 16th century, the Maya economy was significantly impacted by the arrival of the Spanish. The Spanish sacked and razed numerous Maya cities, which had an adverse impact on the economy. In addition, the Spanish introduced slavery and exploitation, which resulted in a further weakening of the Maya economy.
Despite facing such challenges, the Maya economy and culture continue to exist in contemporary Maya communities in Mexico, Guatemala and other Central American countries. Today's Maya communities still consider many traditional economic practices, such as agriculture and handicraft production, essential to their lives.  

Buffy Sainte-Marie:

If you made it to this last part of the vlog, I want to recommend a podcast related to the topic of indigenous communities.

She is Buffy, a resilient, exemplary and strong woman. She is an actress, a singer and a musician. She's an activist and the first indigenous person to win an Oscar and to breastfeed on american television. How did she get there? If you want to know the full story, listen to the interview.

Among Sainte-Marie's best-known songs are "Universal Soldier" and "Cod'ine." Their 1964 album "It's My Way!" contains the song "Now That the Buffalo's Gone" which focuses on the extinction of the bison to illustrate the indigenous cultural genocide that Europeans caused in North America.

Buffy's inspiring story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct3y9w

Links:
https://laculturamaya.net/las-mujeres-en-la-cultura-maya/?expand_article=1
https://www.nationalgeographic.es/historia/quienes-fueron-los-mayas
https://www7.uc.cl/sw_educ/historia/conquista/parte1/html/h62.html#:~:text=La%20sociedad%20maya%20del%20Postcl%C3%A1sico,consejo%20y%20los%20altos%20funcionarios.
https://www.clarin.com/cultura/vestimenta-de-los-mayas-como-se-vestian-y-cual-era-su-importancia_0_SLZsNZ4PP.html
https://rea.ceibal.edu.uy/elp/la-diversidad-cultural-patrimonio-de-todas-os/creencias_mayas.html
https://excursionesrivieramaya.es/tradiciones-y-costumbres-de-la-cultura-maya/

I hope you have enjoyed this vlog and have learned about the Maya community or have strengthened your previous knowledge. <3