Photo Gallery

A family kneels in front of the steps of the Santo Tomás church in Chichicastenango.

Chichicastenango was an important religious and political centre of the Quiché Indians. The Spanish conquistadors destroyed the old Maya temple and built the church of Santo Tomás on its base (picture). To this day, however, the church is also used by Mayan shamans and healers (curanderos) who light incense and candles on the floor, blow liquor over it and make offerings of flowers. The 18 steps of the staircase, which may still be from the old Mayan temple, correspond to the months of the Mayan calendar. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of the holy apostle Thomas. However, since the Quiché calendar is based on astronomical events related to the sun, the festival may have originally belonged to the worship of a Mayan deity. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been adopted from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of the holy apostle Thomas. However, since the Quiché calendar is based on astronomical events related to the sun, the festival may have originally belonged to the worship of a Mayan deity. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been adopted from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of the holy apostle Thomas. However, since the Quiché calendar is based on astronomical events related to the sun, the festival may have originally belonged to the worship of a Mayan deity. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been adopted from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

SantoTomás is the patron saint of the famous Indian village of Chichicastenango in Guatemala. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been taken over from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp and ceremony. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

SantoTomás is the patron saint of the famous Indian village of Chichicastenango in Guatemala. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been taken over from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp and ceremony. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

SantoTomás is the patron saint of the famous Indian village of Chichicastenango in Guatemala. The traditional indigenous festivals have survived the influences of the Catholic religion. But many elements have been taken over from Catholicism. For example, every village on the high plains has its own patron saint or patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated with pomp and ceremony. The whole population takes part in the procession. - 1977

One of the most important and esteemed figures in a procession in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. He is the principal or religious leader of the community, who leads all the ceremonies and rites celebrated by the members of his group. He is also known as the anciano or pasado (elder). To reach this enviable position, he has had to carry out a wide range of functions throughout his life, successively dedicating himself to the church and the objects of worship, organising the processions and serving the patron saint of his village. The principal is a respected man who acts in concert with the chiman or indigenous priest of the community. Both are the most faithful defenders of the tradition. They also seek, by their example, to maintain the balance and safeguard the morals of their group. The principal usually comes from a fairly well-to-do family, which is not necessarily the case for his closest aides. Nevertheless, both strive to perform tasks that are aimed at the material and spiritual development of the representatives of their clan. - 1977

On 21 December, the indigenous people of Chichicastenango celebrate the patron saint of their beautiful Guatemalan village, Santo Tomás. A monstrance is also carried around in the procession. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1972

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1972

In Chichicastenango, the indigenous people celebrate the day of Santo Tomás, patron saint of this beautiful Guatemalan village, on 21 December. The marimba, a xylophone of African origin, found in most places, was probably introduced into Central America during slavery. However, it has undergone significant changes over time, both in terms of its shape and size. It is a bulky instrument with several dozen wooden keys, each with a resonance box. Two or three natives stand in front of this keyboard and strike it with small sticks. In many popular festivals, they are still accompanied by players of wind instruments such as saxophones, trumpets and trombones. These instruments, which came from Europe, were immediately adopted by the locals. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle. The masked dancers are considered to be imitating the Spanish invader of times past. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Throughout pre-Columbian times, the Indians knew only two types of musical instruments, drums and wind instruments (flutes, trumpets, whistles and ocarinas) made of cane stalks, bamboo or clay. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Throughout the pre-Columbian period, the Indians knew only two types of musical instruments, drums and wind instruments (flutes, trumpets, whistles and ocarinas) made of cane stalks, bamboo or clay. Instruments made of copper such as trumpets, trombones, saxophones and horns were soon adopted by the natives from the Spanish conquerors. The use of the foreign musical instruments and the adoption of a foreign type of music brought noticeable changes to the folklore of the indigenous people. - 1977

The main festival in Chichicastenango is celebrated every 21st December during the winter solstice in honour of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Throughout the pre-Columbian period, the Indians knew only two types of musical instruments, drums and wind instruments (flutes, trumpets, whistles and ocarinas) made of cane stalks, bamboo or clay. Instruments made of copper such as trumpets, trombones, saxophones and horns were soon adopted by the natives from the Spanish conquerors. The use of the foreign musical instruments and the adoption of a foreign type of music brought noticeable changes to the folklore of the indigenous people. - 1977