Long I lost trying to attend an Indian ceremony, a hanincol (cornfield food) that make the Mayan order, sometimes, to please the gods, and others, desagraviarlos. He had begged the wizard to allow me entry, but all had refused because I had refused to cross themselves to me (santiguar is subjecting a person to certain baths, herbs, witchcraft, etc.) In ceremonies cornfield meals when women are admitted will distribute the food. At last I resolved to everything and informed the men. That was how I managed to attend the meal. And now, I will tell you what I saw; I heard no, it was all in Maya language you do not understand.
The ceremony was in a town called San Juan Bautista Sahcabchén or High Sahcabchén, to be located on the crest of a hill of rock.
The school teacher, a young man named Mario Flores Barrera, told me in advance; joyful I walked all night riding when the moon silvered the trees and lighted the way.
I arrived at dawn. Up there was the people. I went up to him, knocked on a door and immediately stuck his smiling face teacher who greeted me.
Today will be the party said in a tone of satisfaction. We had breakfast with bread and coffee and then took me to the house of the men who received me obliging but wary.
Are you determined that you santigüen - he asked.
The teacher looked at me in disbelief that it could accept that.
I replied yes, and within minutes was sign of the Cross and smelling rosemary and rue.
We left the three and sat on the edge of a well, and the sorcerer and answered my interrogation.
Why they will do the hanincol?
-To Make amends to the gods.
The owner of the corn plant that has to have a sick child, a sign of displeasure Nohoch-Tat (Great Lord).
Then he showed me several Mayan words, the name of the winds, etc., so that he could understand, and took me to the house where the boy was sick.
Want to see ?, he said. Yes I replied.
In a hammock was young feverish. The men asked him about his health, and he almost did not answer. His mood was down more than fever, fearing that he had punished the owner of the hill. The men took from his knapsack a bun filled with mold pozole yellow turns green. He mixed it with water, sweetened with honey and gave it to the sick.
The women of the house, overnight, wet corn and grind it in grinding stones to make a refreshing drink called Sacabamba. This is split between those who will attend the ceremony.
On the occasion that I mean I got a ration, why I was invited. Then marched to the ceremony or say, where was to take place.
The owner of the seed and its workers were busy. Some opened a pit in the ground; others, in large cauldrons boiled corn, beans and roasted pumpkin seeds, then grind it into a mass of these three products, which collected balls.
Already having the balls on oak leaves or banana, is first spread corn dough making a large tortilla and pumpkin seed is formed: after a bean, and so on, up to nine.
These huahes (breads) wrapped in the leaves themselves; one of them is bigger than the others. While this is carried out in the open pit it has been placed plenty of firewood, burning and heated almost to burn some large stones. On the other hand, too large pots turkeys and chickens are cooked, and the cauldron is cool (savory porridge).
In a pot of chicken broth and turkeys, designed to prepare the hit (hot) sets.
The men, quite deliberately, take two lit candles and followed by men carrying tabulating Huanes (bread) and all the guests, comes to the burning pit. And he says: Lakin-ik-ik xikín, nohol-ik, Xaman-can (winds from the east, the west, south and north; benevolent thirst). Then he makes a thousand contortions, jumps from side to side of the pit, pull with your hands, the fire, the burning stones, and only leaves a deep, upon which the loaves are placed. The stones are arranged drawn up and the grave with earth and covered oak wedges.
Return the sorcerer and his entourage to the original location, which has placed a table, which has over a Christian cross, three candles, three medium and three girls. There are also incense, rude, basil, flowers, candy, cigarettes, etc.
They have brought to the table turkeys and chickens seasoned and cooked. Below the table is the great cauldron of cool, juice chicken and turkeys, etc.