Antigua and clothes

There is a very nice women's cooperative here in Antigua, Casa del Tejido Antiguo, claiming to the be only place in Antigua managed by indigenous people. The galleries are spread throughout what must have been a very grand mansion, with the typical open center courtyard. We paid a few quetzales, and joined a small group of people just beginning a walk through the first few galleries which are set up like a museum. The young man, speaking very nice spanish, was telling about the garments and cloth, explaining the region each came from. The woman at left was drafted from our group to model a typical skirt, belt and blouse. The shawl on her head would been used for a hat when needed, but mostly used to pad her head when carrying heavy loads on her head. This is not tourist stuff made in China, but what we saw every local person wearing and using.  I was in love with everything I saw here! But, I didn't buy anything. Yet.




There are other places selling textiles, in the tourist area, and they are much busier. There is almost no one here, this place is off the tourist trail.




Maximon. (prounounced Mashimon) He's a Guatemalen saint, but one who has a sense of humor. The Mayans called him Rilaj Maam, and the spanish called him St. Simon. Whatever he's called, each village has one that is revered, pampered and visited with offerings. Lonely Planet says he is assumed to be a combination of Maya gods, Pedro de Alvarado (a Spanish conquistator) and the biblical Juadas. No matter their philosophy, Guatemalans ask for his blessings. He's usually housed by a leader of the local church. Some churches change his clothes monthly, others have him in a specially built shelter.  People visit him, bringing tequila or mescal, cigarettes and candles. He prefers the higher price Payaso ciagerettes, and a fancy rum, but often has to settle for cheaper sugar cane firewater. We saw small Maximon statues everywhere: in gardens and on rooftops, in restaurants and small shops. This one is particularly colorful, and is in the small museum at the finca we visited. You have to love him for his down-to-earth needs.



Another mannequin, made of cornshucks and covered in paper mache, dressed in typical style. The baby is often hanging on a woman's back, freeing her to carry other things in her arms. The ribbon braided into her hair is common in both Guatemala and southern Mexico, Mayans of different languages.  In Oaxaca, the color of the ribbon is determined by her village.
















I wish I could buy all the beautiful cloth I've seen in the skirts! It's an intricate pattern of color. The loom is warped, then dyed in a pattern. The weaving of different colors across the dyed patter makes for layers of colors. All the blouses are the same: a piece of cloth folded in half, a hole cut in the middle at the fold, and stitched partially up the sides. People worldwide have used this basic covering style. The difference in Guatemala is the embroidery. All the color on this mannequin's blouse is embroidery. This is an every day blouse!

Mexicans and Guatemalans have wide feet. My size! I'm in love with the hand-made sandals sold at the mercado in Oaxaca, and many of the indigenous people in Guatemala weart the same style sandals, if they wear shoes at all.