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Mayan New Year begins in the month of July according to Gregorian calendar. Mayan calendar has 260 annual days. This is also called Wajxaqib’ B’at’z.
Worship of many gods is a typical Mayan tradition. The focus shifts to a different God in the New Year. The Mayan temples are colored in sacred color blue and new idols are made for worshipping. One significant aspect of Mayan New Year is renewal ritual which entails destruction of old pottery and fiber mats. It is a tradition to put on new clothes. People put on new hat and carry traditional Mayan bag during New Year time.
What the Mayans celebrate on New Year is the cycle of life that reaches full circle. Ritual practices take place in sacred and religious sites. New priests are inducted for community service through ceremonies.
Mayan New Year 5125 was celebrated by the Guatemalans on the 22nd day of February 2009. It was celebrated in Iximche. Mayan New Year has ‘wind’ or ‘Iq’ as its ruler. This year the celebrations were not a secret affair because of the participation of numerous state institutions. New Year celebrations were marked by dances, baseball games and fire ceremonies.
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