So
many people all over the world, at so many times during history, have
depended on weather because they depended on their gardens and fields
for their food. They couldn't just run out to a market to buy
food—they had to grow it.
And
a frost at the wrong time of the year could kill the entire garden.
It could take out an entire field of corn.
For
the Cuchumatan Indians of Guatemala, the very real possibility of
losing a crop to frost inspired a ceremony that was meant to protect
the crops—and therefore their lives.
The
Sealing the Frost Ceremony begins as the prayer makers lead the
villagers up to a cliff where the frost is said to live. One of the
prayer makers dares to do a risky job: he is lowered over the cliff
edge by a rope tied around his waist. When he sees a crack in the
rock, he fills the crack with cement. This is supposed to seal frost
in so that it cannot come and kill the young corn plants.
Then
the daring prayer maker is hauled up again, and he leads the
procession back down to the village.
Learn
about Guatemala
If
you ever travel to Guatemala, you might climb a volcano, shop for
colorful handicrafts, and visit Mayan ruins.
- National Geographic Kids offers a slideshow about Guatemala.
Here is a short video capturing some lava flowing from one of Guatemala's volcanos.
- Growing Up Bilingual features several clever crafts inspired by Guatemalan handicrafts.
And here is a website that tells the legend of the Mayan Trouble Dolls.
- Explore the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal with this wonderful video, and maybe even this virtual tour.
Check
out this previous post about Guatemala.
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on this date:
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