8 B’atz’  ~ Today’s Ch’umil & Happy Maya New Year!

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8 B’at’z in Pascual Abaj, Chichicastenango, Guatemala 2002

Today is Wajxaqib’ (8) B’atz’ (Maya New Year). This is the first day of the Cholq’ij Calendar; during this day the Ajq’ijab’ (Maya Spiritual Guides) and the Maya community join to celebrate with Fire Ceremonies of gratitude to the Ajaw (Great Father) and to pray for blessings for this new cycle. Join this celebration by lighting 20 candles, one for each of the Nawales and connect through their energy to the hundreds of Sacred Fire Ceremonies that are lit today in all of the Sacred Mayan Altars.

According to the Maya, the world was created in one Mayan month (twenty days). The process of creation begins on Jun (1) B’atz and ends on the day Wuqub’ (7) Tz’i’, completing the first twenty days of the Cholq’ij (Calendar of Life). After this final day of creation, the day Wajxaqib’ (8) B’atz’ arrives, which is considered the Cholq’ij New Year. When Maya people celebrate the Cholq’ij new year, they are celebrating that the creation of the world has been fulfilled, and the beginning of a new cycle of 260 days.

Denise Barrios
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