The highland town of Chichicastenango, Guatemala is known for having one of the best markets in Latin America, both for tourism and local necessities. Market days at this location have been important in the region for 800 years, and now occur on Thursdays and Sundays. The larger market is on Sunday, and is augmented by the religious processions and mass which resemble traditional Mayan ritual in many ways more than they do their ostensible Catholic purpose.
I shot this video using a digital still camera with a low-resolution video capability while standing on the steps of the primary church in Chichi, as it's known in-country. When I'm not hosting quizzes or doing boring day jobs, I sometimes play Unfunded Amateur Anthropologist. This is the Sunday market. Note the elders burning offerings of incense and corn, the crush of people in the main market square and the women selling flowers on the church steps for use in indoor ritual offerings. These indoor ceremonies I have seen but photography isn't allowed, and honestly would be a bit tacky at best. It turns out I should not have been standing near the front church entrance, this being reserved for church and community officials. They let me live.
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