The article Rituals of the Modern Maya by Angela M.H Schuster explains many modern practices and aspects of Mayan culture, many of which are similar or the same as they were long ago. These are rites the author and other professionals have experienced in many different Central American places where Mayan religion is practiced. The article was published in July/August of 1997, which is generally recent news of the Maya. This article was written to explain what the Mayan religion is like today and how its traditions have survived.
A display at a Mayan ceremony
The first ritual described in the article is the ceremonies. The author witnessed one in the Church of San Juan Chamula, filled with candles and incense. Mayans went to stations in the church praying for health, wealth, and luck as a chicken was sacrificed to bring an old woman health. John the Baptist, the town's patron saint, was on an altar, covered in tokens of gratitude for his health, as a Mayan god might've been in the Ancient days. Although the ritual may sound much different than what Mayan ceremonies used to be, the author comments on how the ritual has a lot of antiquity. Mayans had always conducted rituals to ask the gods to heal or help them, and also have always expressed their gratitude to them in many ways.
Caves, which have always been important to the Maya have continued having a role in their religion. Caves are believed to be portals to the "Otherworld" or the Mayan underworld. Mayans visit the caves, often before rainy season, lighting candles and burning incense to ensure good harvest. Burning incense has always been a way to appease gods and guarantee safe passage through caves. James Brady of George Washington University found charred remains of burned palm from the Classic Period (250-900 CE.) This demonstrates how the Mayans have kept even small traditions. Today during cave rituals Christian myths are sung and women participate. Though this is unlike ancient times, the worship and importance of the caves has not changed.
Nature, especially mountains, is another aspect of Mayan religion which is still a main part of their lives. Today Maya believe spirit activity occurs in mountains, holes in the ground, mountain passes, rocks, and trees. All of them are important but mountains have always played a major part in Mayan religion. Some believe respect for mountains may have even been the reason for the building of pyramids. If mountains were sacred to the Maya it would make sense for them to base their important pyramid-temples off them. This continuous value of nature is important because it shows how the Maya have always respected the world around them.
Shamans are one of the most important people to the Maya, and they have been since ancient times. According to the article, today shamans are both mayors and healers, responsible for their peoples physical and spiritual health. Because of this, healing is a main job of the shamans. Shamans also summon gods and lead ceremonies when a problem arises. Shamans are greatly respected by the Maya. Some believe when great shamans die, their souls congregate at certain shrines, which gain power as more souls accumulate. This shows how powerful and important the shamans are. Shamans role in society has slightly changed but the respect the people have for them has not.
A Mayan ritual
This article also showed me how Christianity has changed the Mayan religion in many ways. Of course, what the Spanish put the Mayans through was horrible, but today their religion is thriving. For example, Mayans of the town of Tila go to seek support from a leader seen as a mix of Christ and I'kal, the Mayan master of souls. They get this support through prayer and sacrifice. As quoted in the article, Nicolas Hopkins of Florida State University says "[...]the Precolumbian idea of making sacrifices to ensure the well-being of one's family and loved ones echoes Christ's giving of his life to pay for the sins of the world." Mayans have linked ideas from Christianity and their traditional religion to create the religion they have today. This article describes the change that has happened.
This article showed the many ways the Maya have sustained their religion. Many aspects of their rituals have slightly changed, such as their ceremonies, but the essential parts have remained the same. They still practice important rituals, visit sacred places, respect the world around them, and look up to leaders and people who are important to them. This article shows not only how the religion has sustained, but how Christianity has impacted it. Christianity is a main part of the religion they have and most of their rituals have traces of Christian beliefs within them. No matter what religions have influenced the Maya, the point of the article is how they have successfully kept their religion living today.