Las reinas mayas de Guatemala

Question

Algunas fotos muy interesantes, ademas, parece que las candidatas se eligieron por su ingenio y habilidades,mucho mejor que el absurdo ritual por la reina de la belleza que nos hemos acostumbrado en los estados unidos y europa

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Answer 1

Those are interesting photos. I'd like to share this one photo that we took in a village near the ruins at Toniná. The people speak a Mayan dialect with some Spanish words integrated (it is called Xsatal).

These are beautiful children.

I probably missed the point of Birdland's post, or didn't express myself well the first time. The point I wanted to make is that I believe these people are more interested in the natural beauty than the provocative, manufactured beauty so common in western beauty competitions. The ones we visited were in such poverty that beauty was not an important issue. They were more interested in survival. But they maintained a joy of living that is evident on their faces and produces a beauty that cannot be mimicked by Madison Avenue (and the like).

What a beautiful photograph, oh to be that loose and free :-) - lagartijaverde, Aug 17, 2011

These children were a joy to see. :) - 0066c384, Aug 17, 2011

beautiful, I agree:) - 00494d19, Aug 18, 2011

Answer 2

Birdland asked:

I'd like to find out more about their culture and customs, can you recommend a good book? Thanks

I can tell you from experience that 90% of the women over 30 here in the Western Highlands of Guatemala still dress in the traditional "corte" (skirt), huipil (blouse), faja (belt), and delantal (apron)." The locals speak Kaqchiquel as their first language and Spanish as a second language. When I'm travelling from village to village here at Lake Atitán via lancha (a small ferry boat) I hear almost no Spanish among the women; only Kaqchiquel.

Here they talk about the Maya of Guatemala and the area where I live.

This is a good website for historical information.

This gives a list of interesting Maya Archaeological sites.

Even Wikipedia has some good tidbits of information.

Let me know if I can be of more help.

Answer 3

Not to be a killjoy...but tambien hay muchos "televised pagents' en latino america y tratan de la belleza, por esto hay representivas de brasil, argentina ectera en "Miss Universe". Es bueno ver un ejemplo diferente, pero no es que decir que no les importa la belleza moderna en estos lugars.

In Peru there were more ads with half naked or mostly girls on them then would ever be allowed in the states. Thank goodness some of the indigenous peoples carry on traditions that have deeper values then surface beauty.

Good points. :) - 0066c384, Aug 17, 2011

Answer 4

Thanks for that link, Birdland. Yes, here in Guatemala, especially where I live in the Western Highlands, there are more indigenous women (Mayas) than modern.

I'd like to find out more about their culture and customs, can you recommend a good book? Thanks - lagartijaverde, Aug 17, 2011

Good picture, Mariana! I must have been near there a couple of months ago. :) - 0066c384, Aug 17, 2011

Answer 5

I don't know. I would hardly say that the young woman in the link's large photo was homely. She looks pretty attractive to me, but I agree with the absurdity of the Western Beauty Contests.

I agree they are attractive but not in that studied intentionally provocative way - lagartijaverde, Aug 17, 2011

Answer 6

She looks Native American rather than Maya. - --Mariana--, Aug 18, 2011

She is non of them bcoz she is Pakistani. - Xaybiz93, Aug 18, 2011