GUATEMALA 4-24
APPROACH TO ITS CULTURES AND ETHNIC GROUPS
A Social Sciences Essay in 6 Sections
By DarÃo Morán
http://galeriadecultura.hi5.com
POSITIVE GUATEMALA MAYA RITUALS AND END OF ESSAY
Though Maya were great ecologysts in the old times they had to emigrate to other lands , theirs become very poor of nutrients because they worked in agriculture cultivating the triplet of produces : corn, the sacred Ixim, still popular staple for Guatemalans, black beans and squash, but now they are concerned of the protection of natural sources and the environment.
All ceremonies contain a deep respect to Nature.
The other three peoples the Xincas, the GarÃfunas and the Ladinos also perform interesting ceremonies we need to say that Ladinos also practice a very active syncretism, some Mayan beliefs are present in Catholic festivities for example when in easter horchards are decorated with plants,flowers and fruit in churches.
“Manta Kajij, Manta ch’ it ri che ´ : lak ´o ruq ijâ€
Means in K ´iché Maya language :
“Do not beat nor harm the plants and the trees because they cry, they have a soul and they also have their own reason to beâ€
Words of the golden rule that is taught by grandmothers to their children and grandchildren every day.
CULTURE IS A COMPLEX CONCEPT
I do think that all Guatemalans, the 4 peoples forming the 24 ethnic groups will succeed in the way we recognize all our differences, stop acquiring negative elements of cultural currents from abroad and keep on working hard in the understanding, and improvment of the intra and intercultural relations betwen us.
Acting and doing so all of us will live with complete peace and harmony and Guatemala will be the country that all of us have dreamed to be.
Guatemalans and Guatemala are present here and now and represent a rich CULTURE within many CULTURES all efforts should be done for GUATEMALA.