Tales of Chiapas - Part 8 - Chamula

While visiting the fascinating

and FIERCELY indigenous village of Chamula,

I was given this flyer.

Apparently there is no end to the parade

of evangelicals arriving to 'save' the Mayans.

The Chamula church was a study in contrasts.

(No interior pictures allowed!)

There were no pews.

The floor was covered in fragrent

pine boughs and studded with little white lit candles.

It took a minute for my eyes to adjust

and then another few to take in the emotional

impact one feels in this presence.

There was a gold gilded altar,

and the walls were covered in mini-altars

of carved wooden Mayan and Catholic saints.

Families were clustered on the floor,

there was a live chicken awaiting sacrifice,

and jumbo bottles of Coke available

for the people to drink in order to cause

belching - which will expel bad spirits.

Later we shopped and walked around the village,

much of which is not available for photos,
and they are very serious about that.

Entrance to Chamula.

Black beans drying in the sun.

Mayan home.

The cemetery.

And, of course, the kids who will tear your heart out.

Photo by Suzanne Plaskett