Maximón
Maya deity and folk saint of light and dark.
Last updated
Maximón is a Mayan folk saint venerated in Guatemala, represented by a dressed-up wooden effigy that smokes cigars and drinks alcohol.[1] The origins of worshipping Maximón are traced to the period of the Spanish conquest, and his status as a saint emerged from a blending of religious traditions.[2] Maximón is described as embodying both good and evil aspects and is known for his deceptive nature.[3]
Life and work
During the Spanish Conquest, an elder named Ri Laj Mam encouraged a rebellion and was executed, but returned as a judge named Don Ximon.[4] One narrative describes Maximón as an old man who came back to life after death to safeguard his community.[4] A different story claims that Maximón was employed by traders who traveled by water to guard their spouses, but he tricked them by changing his appearance and had sexual relations with every one of them.[3] Because Maximón deceived and injured the inhabitants, the shamans turned his head around and fractured his limbs to prevent further harm.[5]
After that, he fulfilled his intended role and shielded the settlement from malevolent forces.[5] Devotees worship Maximón through a statue that moves to a new home annually in Santiago Atitlán.[3] This statue is attended by dedicated caretakers who remain near the shrine throughout the year, consuming alcohol and tobacco in its presence.[3]
What the cited sources add
A National Geographic account states that Maximón's wooden body is dressed in a typical male suit of the region and placed on a straw mat.[6] The VICE article notes that Maximón's altars are crowded with conflicting imagery, including icons of the Virgin Mary and taxidermied animals.[7] The same source reports that a leader of the Archdiocese of Solala called Maximón "a phenomenon of the gravest religious corruption"[7] The LifeGate article states that Maximón receives everyone, including prostitutes and entrepreneurs, with offerings of tobacco, liquor, money, and tortillas.[1]
The same source notes that Maximón evolves with the times by changing his look to fit the situation.[1] The NBC News article describes how, during the Easter period, the telinel carries the statue of Maximón and acts as his "symbolic horse" in the procession.[8]
References
- Bot, "Maximón is a Mayan folk saint venerated in Guatemala. And a heavy drinker and smoker", LifeGate, 2017-07-25. facts only, no text reused. lifegate.com
- Wikipedia, "Maximón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Reeves, "The Drunken, Devilish Mayan God Still Worshipped in Guatemala", VICE, 2013-12-18 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Maximón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Meet Maximón: The Liquor-Drinking, Chain-Smoking Saint", National Geographic, 2018-06-12 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Maximón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barrios, "The Legend of Maximon", Welcome to Saq' Be', 2014-10-14 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Maximón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Santiago Atitlan, Maximon", www.santiagoatitlan.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Meet Maximón: The Liquor-Drinking, Chain-Smoking Saint", National Geographic, 2018-06-12. facts only, no text reused. nationalgeographic.com
- Reeves, "The Drunken, Devilish Mayan God Still Worshipped in Guatemala", VICE, 2013-12-18. facts only, no text reused. vice.com
- "This Guatemalan village fuses Mayan and Catholic traditions in distinctive Easter celebration", NBC News, 2017-04-12. facts only, no text reused. nbcnews.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Maximón (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Maximón (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced