The Burden of the Ancients: Maya Ceremonies of World Renewal from the Pre-Columbian Period to the Present

376 Pages·2016·59.823 MB·English

by  Allen J. Christenson

The Burden of The AncienT s
The Linda Schele Series in Maya and Pre- Columbian Studies
This series was made possible through the generosity of
William C. Nowlin Jr. and Bettye H. Nowlin, the National
Endowment for the Humanities, and various individual donors.
Maya
Ceremonies of
World Renewal
The Burden of
from the Pre-
The AncienTs
Columbian
Period to the
Allen J. chrisTenson Present
universiTy of TexAs Press
Austin
Copyright © 2016 by the University of Texas Press
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Printed in the United States of America
First edition, 2016
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liBrAry of congress cATAloging- in- PuBlicATion dATA
Names: Christenson, Allen J., 1957– author.
Title: The burden of the ancients : Maya ceremonies of world renewal
from the Pre-Columbian period to the present / Allen J. Christenson.
Series: Linda Schele series in Maya and pre-Columbian studies.
Description: First edition. Austin : University of Texas Press, 2016.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: lccn 2016003027
isBn 9781477309957 (cloth : alk. paper)
isBn 9781477310267 (pbk. : alk. paper)
isBn 9781477309964 (library e-book)
isBn 9781477309971 (non-library e-book)
Subjects: lcsh: Mayas—Rites and ceremonies. Mayas—Religion.
Mayas—Religious life and customs. Tzutuhil Indians—Religion. Tzutuhil
Indians—Rites and ceremonies. Santiago Atitlán (Guatemala)—Religious
life and customs. Holy Week—Guatemala—Santiago Atitlán.
Classification: lcc f1435.3.r56 c48 2016
ddc 299.7/842—dc23
lc record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016003027
doi: 10.7560/309957
To the people of Santiago Atitlán—those living in
this world and those now living with the ancients
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conTenT s
AcknowledgmenTs ix
inTroducTion 1
Chapter 1
Pre- columBiAn riTuAls of
world renewAl in yucATAn 16
Chapter 2
new yeAr’s ceremonies in The mAyA highlAnds 68
Chapter 3
eAsTer And The sPAnish conquesT 111
Chapter 4
PosT- conquesT ceremonies of world renewAl 136
Chapter 5
holy mondAy 166
Chapter 6
holy TuesdAy 214
Chapter 7
holy wednesdAy 239
Chapter 8
holy ThursdAy 271
Chapter 9
good fridAy 301
viii conTenTs
Chapter 10
AfTermATh And conclusions 325
BiBliogrAPhy 337
index 353
AcknowledgmenTs
My gratitude belongs first and last to the people of Santiago Atitlán who have
so patiently and generously given of their time, hospitality, and wisdom over
the many years when this project was gestating, beginning with my first visit
there in 1977 as an ethnographer and linguist. This work could not have been
done without the collaboration of the many Maya confraternity officials and
members, ajq’ijaa’ (traditional Maya priests) and other ritual specialists, mu-
nicipal leaders, and citizens of the community. They have been extraordinarily
kind in granting access to their ritual life, much of which is private and little
known outside their own circles.
This book draws heavily on conversations that I have had with the people
of Santiago Atitlán, known locally as Atitecos, and I have tried wherever pos-
sible to use their words rather than to paraphrase. It is after all their voice that
matters. Because of the continued threat of violence against traditionalists in
Santiago Atitlán, I have not included their names unless specifically told to
do so. As one of those whose names I did include told me, “far more tragic
than being threatened is being forgotten.” I look forward to the day when cir-
cumstances in Guatemala will make it safe to acknowledge others.
This book would never have seen the light of day without the generous
support and encouragement of Brigham Young University, particularly my
mentors who have served as department chairs—George Tate, Roger Mac-
farlane, Stanley Benfell, Michael Call, and George Handley—and my dean,
John Rosenburg. I am grateful to my colleagues who have offered invaluable
advice on early drafts of the book—particularly Karen Bassie- Sweet, Gar-
rett W. Cook, Shannon Dame, John D. Early, Juan José Guerrero Pérez,
Stephen Houston, Ashley Kistler, Linda O’Brien- Rothe, Sandra Orellana,
Jesper Nielsen, Camille Richey, Frauke Sachse, Garry Sparks, and Gabrielle
Vail. I am deeply indebted to my friend Andrew Weeks. Beginning in 2001,
we worked together on several occasions in Santiago Atitlán while he was
making his beautiful film Balancing the Cosmos. His natural sympathy for the
people and profound understanding of the changing Atiteco world are deeply