| Travellers wanting to see the Mayan culture alive and | | | | find a huge selection of goods, including textiles |
| well in the present day can't do much better than the | | | | (particularly women's blouses), hand carved masks, |
| town of Chichicastenango. As 95% of the population | | | | handicrafts, food, flowers, medicinal plants, pigs and |
| of the town is recognized as indigenous, you'll find it | | | | chickens, machetes, and much more. |
| difficult not to be surrounded by native culture! Apart | | | | Adding to the chaotic racket of the firecrackers is the |
| from being a mouthful of a name, the town (also | | | | scent of the incense which is burned in abundance on |
| known as Santo Tomas Chichicastenango) is | | | | the steps of the church, drifting over the bustling throng |
| surrounded by mountains which gives it a secluded | | | | of traders and visitors. On Sunday, travellers will have |
| feel even though it is only about 140 kilometres outside | | | | the added delight of watching the cofradias (local |
| Guatemala City. | | | | members of the religious brotherhood) have |
| The handicrafts market | | | | processions in and around the church. |
| Every Thursday and Sunday, thousands of vendors | | | | The Church |
| and visitors descend upon Chichicastenango, attending | | | | Forming the centre of the community, the 400 year old |
| what is said to be the largest native market in North | | | | church of Santo Tomas demonstrates the strong |
| America. Since pre-Hispanic times, the town has been | | | | Masheno (local townsfolk) beliefs in pre-Christian |
| one of the largest trading centers in the Maya area. | | | | religion and ceremony. Each of the 18 church steps |
| Not much has changed; despite plastic sheeting for | | | | represents one of the 20-day months in the Mayan |
| shelter and greater attendance, visitors will hear | | | | calendar. There is a strong sense of shamanism and |
| Quiche predominantly spoken and native dress is | | | | ritual in Chichicastenango, with the church used for |
| commonly worn. The vendors represent many of | | | | shamanic rituals, burning incense, candles and, on |
| Guatemala's linguistic groups such as Mam, Ixil and | | | | special occasions, even chickens! |
| Kaqchikel. | | | | The festival |
| The night before the big market, vendors can be seen | | | | Around Christmas time in the 3rd week of December, |
| setting up their booths in the main plaza and adjacent | | | | the town hosts the added excitement of the masked |
| streets and continue in the early daylight hours. In | | | | and costumed dancers of the Dance of the Conquest, |
| announcement of the event, firecrackers start being let | | | | a satirising carnival pageant on the conquering of the |
| off early in the morning and continue sporadically | | | | Americas. The streets of the town are filled in a |
| throughout the day. | | | | riotous cacophony of color, dialects and costumes, |
| Rich variety of colours in the wide range of traditional | | | | smoke, and smells that challenge the realms of |
| dresses worn by the women attending the market. | | | | imagination. Images of the patron saint Tomas are |
| Those knowledgeable in the designs can even tell | | | | paraded through the streets, strong smells of incense |
| which part of the country the wearers are from, as | | | | pour from the church and the sounds of firecrackers, |
| the designs are unique to each community or group. | | | | rockets, drums and brass bands assault your senses |
| The women wear the traditional multi-coloured Huipile | | | | from all directions. |
| (blouse) and a skirt, otherwise known as a corte, | | | | Those looking for evidence that the Maya are alive |
| composed of a striking selection of natural dyes. | | | | and well in the present day need look no further than |
| The sprawling labyrinth of stalls may seem chaotic, but | | | | the mountain town of Chichicastenango. Be sure to |
| the market is highly organized, with traditional areas | | | | include a visit to the market or festival in your |
| designated for specific types of goods. Visitors can | | | | Guatemala vacation. |