Revived Mayan Pilgrimages to Cozumel, Mexico Give Glance into Ancient Mayan Culture

Revived Mayan Pilgrimages to Cozumel, Mexico Give Glance into Ancient Mayan Culture

Some of the most interesting traditions of Mayan culture were the pilgrimages they made before the Spanish conquest. For hundreds of years, ancient Mayans would embark on adventurous pilgrimages from Pole on Yucatan to the island of Cozumel. These pilgrimages were inspired by ancient traditions and a want to worship the goddess of fertility, Ixcel. Worship usually took place at the modern site of the San Gervasio ruins.

These pilgrimages were believed to bring a new sense of equilibrium and meaning to the Mayan world and make the pilgrims feel at ease with the shifting nature of the universe. Six years ago, the custom of these ancient Mayan pilgrimages found its revival at Xcaret, a park close to Cancun, where Pole used to be. Xcaret still contains a hint of the elaborately distinct Mayan culture that once filled the lands. In the area, a barter type of economy composed of chocolate and beans is still being utilized. During the pilgrimage to Cozumel, Mexico people dress in intricate multicolored outfits, journey miles by canoe, and embrace the Mayan rituals of the past. People also take place in dances of joy, fire, and rebirth. The 2013 Sacred Mayan Journey will take place in mid-May 2013.