Reviving the Hetzmek
An ancient Mayan ritual was performed on Sunday in Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk. The Hetzmek, or Mayan Baptism, is a fading cultural practice. The Cantun family is working on reviving the ritual with this Sunday’s ceremony. Three-month-old baby girl Neveah Cantun was introduced to the community during a ritual that involved the presentation of symbolic items representing the child’s future activities and responsibilities in life. In this week’s Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Hipolito Novelo takes a look at Hetzmek.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
Deeply rooted in ancient Mayan traditions, over the weekend Mayan Priestess Felicita Cantun performed a Hetzmek- a Mayan baptismal ceremony- in Orange Walk. This ritual involves the baptism of individuals, often infants, within the Mayan culture. During Sunday’s ceremony, three-month-old baby Neveah Cantun was introduced to the community.
Felicita Cantun
Felicita Cantun, Mayan Priestess
“Normally for baby girls we do it at three months because of the three stones that form the fire heart. That is why we performed it on the baby. She is put by the grandmother and the grandfather on the hip and that is they say for the baby to walk straight and be able to run fast.”
During the Hetzmek, various symbolic elements and activities are incorporated, representing the child’s future responsibilities and experiences in life. The ceremony typically includes the use of a conch shell, prayers, and symbolic presentations of items that hold cultural significance. As the Mayan Priestess, Cantun seeks permission from natural elements and gods before commencing the ceremony.
Felicita Cantun
“We ask permission to the four corners. We asked permission that this HetzMek takes place and after this we invited all nature, we invited the air. We invited the rain. We invited the forest. We invited the animals, the birds. We invited nature to come and be with us during this ceremony. After we had asked permission, the mother of the baby spoke and she said that she is so happy that the baby has been with us for three months. And then, that is why they are doing this ceremony so that the grandmother can give good advice to the baby girl. The grandmother accepted the challenged and she took the baby.”
The godparents play a crucial role in guiding the child around a sacred circle nine times, presenting symbolic items that carry meaning for the child’s spiritual and practical development. Her dress was changed, symbolizing her transformation into a new being.
Joannie Cantun
Joannie Cantun, God Mother of Neveah Cantun
“It is significant to us because we presented her throughout, we were presenting her with different items and tools that she will eventually use when she grows up. So it is very meaningful and very symbolic. We are presenting her to the community but we are not presenting her unequipped. We are presenting her with all of the tools that we know that she will use in the future.”
Jessamyn Cantun
Jessamyn Cantun, Mother of Neveah Cantun
Traditional-wise our family is very involved in tradition. I just want my baby to be involved in it just like we are so that she can be very proud to be a Maya, Mestizo.”
Hipolito Novelo
“What advice would you want to give her or what sort of woman would you want her to grow up to be?”
Jessamyn Cantun
“To be a hardworking, intelligent, powerful woman, to be honest. And to be very proud of herself and where she comes from.”
Hetzmek serves as a cultural practice aimed at preserving Mayan traditions and is performed in an effort to revive fading customs.
Felicita Cantun
“For us it is very, very important because it normally this does not happen regularly. I encourage, if I see somebody with a baby, why don’t we do the HetzMek for the baby. But that is where it stay. So this is my great daughter. So we said we need to show the world, to give example that this is still one. This still happens. We do not want to lose this because we are losing lots of our culture and this is one of part of our culture, especially our spirituality.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
