Photo Gallery

Central America - At the market of Santiago de Atitlan (Guatemala), the men still wore their customary striped trousers when this picture was taken; little by little, however, European-cut shirts were already replacing their traditional garments. - 1980

Doña Concepción Pacach Tzina weaving. She is wearing the traditional dress of her people and lives in the village of Santiago Atitlán in Guatemala. The indigenous weaving technique has hardly changed over the centuries. Most other commercial activities are also carried out using the same simple technique as in the past. Nevertheless, many Indians, some of whom are ingenious craftsmen, are able to produce actual works of art, weavings or ceramics, basketry and objects made of stone, metal or wood. - 1977

Doña Concepción Pacach Tzina wears the traditional dress of her people and lives in the village of Santiago de Atitlán in Guatemala. The typical costume is an example of the culture of every town in Guatemala. One of the most striking accessories is the famous tocoyal of Santiago Atitlán. The tocoyal is a ribbon that is wrapped around the head and is between 20 and 25 yards long, which is roughly equivalent to between 16 and 21 metres. To use it, it is wrapped around the head 20 times, simulating a hat. The 20 loops refer to the Mayan calendar and also signify the continuity of life, the feathered serpent and the Tzu'tujil culture. One of the most famous personalities to wear this garment was Doña Concepción Ramírez Chonita from Santiago Atitlán, who won the competition to be depicted on the 25 cent coin of the national currency in 1936. - 1977

Doña Concepción Pacach Tzina wears the traditional dress of her people and lives in the village of Santiago de Atitlán in Guatemala. The typical costume is an example of the culture of every town in Guatemala. One of the most striking accessories is the famous tocoyal of Santiago Atitlán. The tocoyal is a ribbon that is wrapped around the head and is between 20 and 25 yards long, which is roughly equivalent to between 16 and 21 metres. To use it, it is wrapped around the head 20 times, simulating a hat. The 20 loops refer to the Mayan calendar and also signify the continuity of life, the feathered serpent and the Tzu'tujil culture. One of the most famous personalities to wear this garment was Doña Concepción Ramírez Chonita from Santiago Atitlán, who won the competition to be depicted on the 25 cent coin of the national currency in 1936. - 1977

Doña Concepción Pacach Tzina wears the traditional dress of her people and lives in the village of Santiago de Atitlán in Guatemala. The typical costume is an example of the culture of every town in Guatemala. One of the most striking accessories is the famous tocoyal of Santiago Atitlán. The tocoyal is a ribbon that is wrapped around the head and is between 20 and 25 yards long, which is roughly equivalent to between 16 and 21 metres. To use it, it is wrapped around the head 20 times, simulating a hat. The 20 loops refer to the Mayan calendar and also signify the continuity of life, the feathered serpent and the Tzu'tujil culture. One of the most famous personalities to wear this garment was Doña Concepción Ramírez Chonita from Santiago Atitlán, who won the competition to be depicted on the 25 cent coin of the national currency in 1936. - 1977

In the market of Santiago de Atitlán. - 1977

The typical costume is a sample of the culture of each village in Guatemala. One of the accessories that stands out the most is the famous Tocoyal of Santiago Atitlán. The Tocoyal is a ribbon that is wrapped around the head and measures between 20 and 25 rods long, or approximately 16 and 21 metres. The way it is used is by wrapping it 20 times around the head, simulating a hat. The 20 turns are related to the Mayan calendar and also signify the continuity of life, the feathered serpent and the Tzu'tujil culture. One of the best known personalities who wore this garment was Doña Concepción Ramírez Chonita, from Santiago Atitlán, who in 1936 won the competition to appear on the national 25-cent coin. - 1977

The young Mayan woman Rosa-María embroiders flowers on a blouse (huipil). These embroideries are typical for the Santiago Atitlán area. - 1977

It is Sunday, market day in Santiago de Atitlán, on the shores of a beautiful Guatemalan lake. These men are wearing their ethnic cotton trousers with vertical stripes. Some of these garments still have multicoloured embroidery on the lower part. However, while some have kept the typical local shirt, the majority of the others have adopted the European or American cut shirt. Men who travel and work outside their community are more influenced by the outside world than women. - 1977

It is Sunday, market day in Santiago de Atitlán, on the shores of a beautiful Guatemalan lake. These men are wearing their ethnic cotton trousers with vertical stripes. Some of these garments still have multicoloured embroidery on the lower part. However, while some have kept the typical local shirt, the majority of the others have adopted the European or American cut shirt. Men who travel and work outside their community are more influenced by the outside world than women. - 1977