Travels Guatemala

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Culture

The culture of Guatemala reflects strong Mayan and Spanish influences and continues to be defined as a contrast between poor Mayan villagers in the rural highlands, and the urbanized and relatively wealthy ladino who occupy the cities and surrounding agricultural plains.Catholicism combined with the Maya religion to form the unique religion which prevailed throughout the country and still does in the rural regions.  Beginning from negligible roots prior to 1960, however, Protestant Pentecostalism has grown to become the predominant religion of Guatemala City and other urban centers and down to mid-sized towns.

The unique religion is reflected in the local saint, Maximón, who is associated with the subterranean force of masculine fertility and prostitution.  Always depicted in black, he wears a black hat and sits on a chair, often with a cigar placed in his mouth and a gun in his hand, with offerings of tobacco, alcohol, and Coca-cola at his feet.  The locals know him as San Simon of Guatemala.
 

Newsflash

Chichicastenango It is famous because it is the place where they found the Popol Vuh, the Mayan religious book that tells the origin of mankind.  It was translated from the original Quiche in to Spanish by fray Francisco Ximénez.