Cover Page
The following handle holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation:
http://hdl.handle.net/1887/61632
Author: Akker, P. van den
Title: Time, History and Ritual in a K’iche’ Community: Contemporary Maya Calendar Knowledge and Practices in the Highlands of Guatemala
Issue Date: 2018-04-24
Time, History and Ritual in a K’iche’
Community
Contemporary Maya Calendar Knowledge and Practices in the Highlands of Guatemala
Leiden University Press
Archaeological Studies Leiden University is published by Leiden University Press, the Netherlands Series editors: M.E.R.G.N. Jansen and H. Kamermans
Cover design: J.F. Porck Lay out: J.F. Porck
Illustrations: P. van den Akker Image editor: J.F. Porck ISBN 978 90 8728 309 4 e-ISBN 978 94 0060 324 0 NUR 682
©Paul van den Akker / Leiden University Press, 2018
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the written permission of both the copyright owner and the author of the book.
This book is distributed in North America by the University of Chicago Press (www.press.uchicago.edu).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES LEIDEN UNIVERSITY 42
Time, History and Ritual in a K’iche’
Community
Contemporary Maya Calendar Knowledge and Practices in the Highlands of Guatemala
Proefschrift ter verkrijging van
de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof. mr. C.J.J.M. Stolker,
volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op dinsdag 24 april 2018
klokke 15.00 uur door
Paul van den Akker
geboren te Vlissingen in 1989
Promotor
Prof. Dr. M.E.R.G.N. Jansen Co-promotor
Jun. Prof. Dr. F. Sachse (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) Promotiecommissie
Prof. Dr. C.L. Hofman, decaan Faculteit der Archeologie (voorzitter) Prof. Dr. J.C.A. Kolen (secretaris)
Prof. Dr. W.F.H. Adelaar
Prof. Dr. J.F. Chuchiak (Missouri State University) Dr. E.B. Carlin
Dr. G.D.J. Llanes Ortiz
Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 11
Research Objectives 11
State of Research 12
Time, Ritual, and Cultural Continuity 14
Contextualization of Fieldwork 18
Structure of this Research 23
PART ONE: TIME CYCLES 25
I. The Chol Q’ij – the 260-day count 27
Introduction 27
Calendar Specialists 27
Sacred Places 29
The Chol Q’ij 32
The Day-Lords 34
Numerology 35
Calendar Divination 38
Time and the Human Being 40
The Nawal 43
A Trecena Cycle 43
Becoming an Ajq’ij 48
The Calling 48
The Training 49
The Renewal of Commitment 51
The Initiation 52
II. Time and Authority 59
Introduction 59
The Authority of the Year 59
The Mam or Year Bearer 60
The Veintenas 63
The Celebration of the Mam 65
Ajaw Job’ – The Authority of the Day 69
The Temporal Organization of the Community 76
A K’iche’ Gregorian Calendar 80
Contents
III. Seasonality and Celebrations 83
Introduction 83
Seasonality in the Maya Area 85
The Dry and Cold Period 86
Seasonal Characteristics 86
Celebrations 88
The Preparation of the Milpa and Sowing 89
Seasonal Characteristics 89
Celebrations 91
The Rainy Season 92
Seasonal Characteristics 92
Celebrations 95
The Canícula and the Second Period of Rain 96
Seasonal Characteristics 96
Celebrations 98
The Time of Harvest 99
Seasonal Characteristics 99
Celebrations 100
Case Studies 101
The Ritual de la quema 101
Holy Week 103
The Day of the Holy Cross 107
The Patron Saint Feast of Santiago 111
The Solstice 112
A Cycle of Feasts 120
Climate Change 121
PART TWO: EL BAILE DE LA CULEBRA 123 IV. Ritual Memory and History 125
Introduction 125
A Definition of the Baile de la Culebra 125
Documentation of the Dance 126
Broader Contexts 127
Temporal and Spatial Contexts 127
Terminology of the Dance 130
Costumes Used in the Dance 132
History of the Dance 135
The baile de la culebra in Momostenango 137
The Ritual Preparation 138
Around the 4th Friday of Lent 141
The Greased Pole 143
Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday 148
Variety in Narratives 154
Momostenango 154
Joyabaj 154
San Andrés Sajcabajá 154
Rabinal 155
Chichicastenango 155
San Bartolo and Pologua 155
Santa Cruz del Quiché 155
Santa Lucía Utitlán 156
Historical Experiences in Ritual Dance 156
V. Symbolism and Continuity 161
Introduction 161 Dancing and Whipping 163 Dance as Sacrifice 163 Bloodletting in the Past 165 Sacrifice for the Community 168 The Cycle of Life-Death-Life 168 Snake Symbolism 173 The Guatemalan Highlands and Mesoamerica 173 Serpent Symbolism in the Past 178 The Guardian of the Earth 179 The Prehispanic Complex of Mother Goddesses 183 Central Mexico 183 The Maya Region 185 The Snake Lady Vases 187 Lady 9 Kan 190 Discussion 193
Bibliography 197
APPENDIX A. Transcription of a Ceremonial Discourse 209
APPENDIX B. The Faces of the Days 239
APPENDIX C. Mnemonics for Ritual Discourses 245
APPENDIX D. The Movement of Blood 249
APPENDIX E. Tzijolaj 253
List of Figures 254
List of Tables 261
Summary 262
Nederlandse samenvatting 264
Curriculum Vitae 267
9
Acknowledgements
This work could not have been completed without the help of many people. Two persons need to be mentioned here in particular, don Rigoberto Itzep Chanchavac and doña María Hernández Ajanel, to whom I am extremely grateful. On my first day in Momostenango, they took me into their family and introduced me to all aspects of the K’iche’ culture.
Thanks to them and to their children, Bonampak Itzep Hernández, Ralankil Itzep Hernández, Nakshit Itzep Hernández, Gregorio Itzep Hernández and his wife Sheryll Calel Itzep, Momostenango became my home.
I also want to express my gratitude to Don José Ángel Xeloj, who shared his extensive knowledge of Momostecan history, ritual practices, the catholic church, the auxiliatura, and the K’iche’ calendar with me and who invited me to several ceremonies. I also would like to thank all members of Takiliben May Wajshakib’ Batz − Estela Hernández Vicente, doña Julia Hernández Vicente, Yessica Cojuix Ajanel, don Flanicio Cuxuc, don Luis Torres, don Florentino Xiloj, don Juan Velásques Pelicó, and don José Hernández Marroquín − for supporting my research in Momostenango. Also Marleny Tzicap, Ricardo Zárate Guix, Gernot Zárate, Irma Hernández Ajanel, and Carlos Pérez Acabal have each contributed significantly to my understanding of Momostecan community life. Furthermore, thanks to don Leonso Lol, Francisco Lol, Luiz Lol, don Leon and all the Tz’ulab’ dancers, I had the opportunity to experience the importance of dance in Momostecan K’iche’
culture.
I am especially indebted to Julio Cotom, a great archeologist and friend, who always welcomed me in his home in Guatemala City upon my arrival. Julio introduced me to the rich archaeological heritage of the Highlands of Guatemala and persuaded me, together with Pierre-Louis Isidore, Marina Colín, Maritza García, to join the team that was leading
the revitalization of the Museo del Occidente in Quetzaltenango. I have been fortunate to exchange thoughts with several prominent Ajq’ijab’ and specialists from the Highlands of Guatemala. Among them are Elias López from Kajolá, doña María Theresa López and don José Arturo Cabrera Aguilar from Concepción Chiquirichapa, don Roberto Poz Pérez from Zunil, don Luiz Lux from Santa Cruz del Quiché, Francisco Juárez from Santa Eulalia, and don Ricardo Ignacio Vincente and don Miguel Sebastián Chan Juárez from Chichicastenango.
David Mazariegos and Nicolás Mazariegos from the Kamalbe Language School in Quetzaltenango have contributed enormously to my knowledge of the K’iche’ language. A special thanks to Anita Garr with whom I have spent many evenings discussing the K’iche’ calendar and who has given me many valuable recommendations.
The research leading to this result forms part of the project ‘Time in Intercultural Context: the Indigenous Calendars of Mexico and Guatemala’ directed by Prof. Dr. Maarten E.R.G.N. Jansen (Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University) and has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007- 2013) / ERC grant agreement n° 295434. I want to thank the European Research Council for the financial support which made this research possible.
I would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Maarten Jansen, who has inspired me to pursuit an academic career, and Aurora Pérez Jimenez, whose rightful critique on western science encouraged me to critically reflect on my own methodologies. Dr. Frauke Sachse invested hours in teaching me the K’iche’ language and has been a great motivator throughout the entire process.
I would like to thank all my friends and colleagues from the University Leiden, especially the members of the research project Time in Intercultural Context.
10
I wish to mention in particular here Alessia Frassani, who reviewed my first manuscript and provided me with an endless, but helpful, list of comments. Also Araceli Rojas, Ilona Heijnen and Ludo Snijders were always ready for an academic discussion during one of our many coffee breaks.
My family has always supported my interest in heritage and Latin America. I share my love for this region of the world with my parents, Everard van den Akker and Marjan de Bruijn, who introduced me to the beauty of archaeology, who took me on my first trip to Mexico, who recommended me to go abroad and learn Spanish, who encouraged me to study what I love, and who continue to support me in anything I do. This book is the result of everything you have taught me so far. Niels and Frederieke, my academic support and proofreaders, thank you so much! Roeland and Mariska, many new ideas were born during our late Saturday night talks. Emmelie, because of your endless range of interests I could discuss any topic with you. Panos Tantaroudas and Zanet Marouli, every time we meet you fill my mind with ideas, my stomach with food and my heart with love; what else could I wish for? Danai Tantarouda thank you for taking care of me, for inspiring me, for motivating me, for challenging me, for making me focus and work hard, for distracting me, for leading me, and for following me. This book could not have been written without your unconditional support.
Finally, Hannes Geldof and Bruno Bodson, you made Latin America only more interesting, cliquiti.
TIME, HISTORY AND RITUAL IN A K’ICHE’ COMMUNITY
