(Note: the best way to view this is to read the text first, then click on the first photo for a slide show)
Maximón (pronounced maa-shee-MOHn) is a “folk saint”
worshipped in various forms by Maya people of the western highlands. He was born in Santiago Atitlán. The
reverence of Maximón is not approved by the Roman Catholic Church.
Wikipedia says it best: “The legend has it that one day while the
village men were off working in the fields, Maximón slept with all of their
wives (at once). When they returned,
they became so enraged they cut off his arms and legs (this is why most
effigies of Maximón are short, often without arms). Somehow he became a god
following this, perhaps he was possessed by the god prior. ...
“Where Maximón is venerated, he is represented by an effigy which
resides in a different house each year, being moved in a procession during Holy
Week. During the rest of the year, devotees visit Maximón in his chosen
residence, where his shrine is usually attended by two people from the
representing Cofradia who keep the shrine in order and pass offerings from
visitors to the effigy. Worshipers offer money, spirits and cigars to gain his
favor in exchange for good health, good crops, marriage counseling, amongst
other favors. The effigy invariably has a lit cigarette or cigar in its mouth,
and in some places, it will have a hole in its mouth to allow the attendants to
give it spirits to drink.”
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| Maximón |
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| Peace Park |
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| In the church |
I love how in the first shot, that mountain looks like a roof, and that's it too in the last shot, no?
ReplyDeleteYes, the town of Santiago is surrounded by three large volcanos. Actually, I'm not sure if the first and last shot are of the same volcano, but it was definitely a looped sequence. Good eye, Laurie!
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