Water festival Yaxnichil

Fiesta de agua Yaxnichil

Object Details

Subject LanguageTzeltal
Language PID(s)ailla:119666
Title [Indigenous]Skin ja ta Yaxnichil
Language of Indigenous Titletzh
TitleWater festival Yaxnichil
Language CommunityTseltal de Oxchuc
Country(ies)Mexico
Place CreatedOxchuc, Chiapas
Date Created2008-05-03
Description [Indigenous]
Language of Indigenous Description
DescriptionThis video documents activities of the water festival, which takes place in many villages at the beginning of May (festivals also known as those of the Holy Cross) in the village of Oxchuc. We observe first a prayer in the church of Saint Thomas officated by the ch'uy k'aaletik (traditional authorities of the village), later a ritual dance. Later we are directed to the spring "Yaxnichil" where three prayers are said at the same time: the ch'uy k'aal Mariano López Gómez remains praying in the principal spring, the other ch'uy k'aal went to pray in the natural spring "Yanil Ajte" ("under the matasano tree") and the other ch'uy k'aal went to "Yanil Tsits" (under the avocado tree"). Afterwards, they concentrate on the traditional dancing accompanied by the musicians of harp, guitar, and others like drum, flute, and rattles. Later they are directed to the spring "K'orochochilja" (see TZH003R034.)
GenresPrayer
Ceremony
Source Note080503_Oxchuc_skin_ja_ta_Yaxnichil
References
Contributor(s) Individual / RolePolian, Gilles (Researcher)
Gómez K'ulub, Manuel (Speaker)
Gómez Sánchez, María (Researcher)
Méndez Girón, Juan (Researcher)
Sántiz Girón, Antonia (Researcher)
Contributor(s) Corporate / Role

Details