One comes from San Cristobal once a week to say Mass. Or maybe it’s better to keep the […] San Juan Chamula is a municipio (municipality) and township in the Mexican state of Chiapas.It is situated some 10 km (6.2 mi) from San Cristóbal de las Casas. Long story short, Roberto explained that way back when the Spanish were establishing control, the Mayans had to accept a certain degree of Christianity to keep from being persecuted. One of the most interesting stops on a recent trip through Chiapas was in a small town just outside San Cristobal de las Casas called San Juan Chamula.

It’s 30 curvy miles and is doable as a day trip.You can reach the following as day trips from San Cristobal, but I don’t recommend it. Il faut dire qu’à quelques kilomètres de la ville de San Cristobal, la communauté de San Juan …

San Juan Chamula. One thing I think we all agree upon was that visiting the church of San Juan Chamula is a true and unique travel Sumidero is NE of San Cristobal on the road to Tuxtla Gutiérrez. 62 talking about this. Even the historic hotels downtown, like the charming Bonampak–on the highway to Tuxtla. Although there is a direct route from San Cristobal is just the gateway to some of the most marvelous natural scenery in Mexico. They say there is something special about the aura around the territory. No visit to San Cristobal would be complete without a stop at San Juan Chamula. During the forty or so minutes we were in the church, I believe I saw at least three chickens killed in offering.Surrounding the groups of shaman and patients are the statues of the saints to whom the people of Chamula pray. Local Indians wear traditional clothing, not because of tourists but because that is how they dress.The Catholic Church must have loved San Cristobal very much since they built dozens of churches in this outpost of Mexico. These will drop you off at the main plaza in San Juan Chamula, where the temple is located. San Juan Chamula is a town of about 3,000 located about 7 miles outside of San Cristobal de las Casas. Au marché de San Juan Chamula, les hommes ont d’épaisses tuniques de laine écrue ou noire sur des habits vivement colorés ; les femmes aussi portent des robes de laine noire à longs poils. This is a Tzotzil community that even today practices syncretism – a melding of spiritual/mystical rituals from the Chamulas and the Catholic Church. Seattle WA used to have this quality before pollution took over. Look out for fireworks, dance and general liveliness if you happen to be there while the inhabitants are in the throes of a party. As of 2010, the town of Chamula had a population of 3,329.There are no pews in the church, and the floor area is completely covered in a carpet of green pine boughs.Photography in the town is very difficult as parents will hide their children or they themselves will turn away as soon as they spot a camera. The Chamulas are Tzotzil people, who are descendants of the The chief attraction is the San Juan Bautista temple. Centro ceremonial tsotsil que conserva sus tradiciones. Turn right on MEX-145D to Tuxtla, turn left to San Cristobal. Also handicapped accessible hotel. As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 76,941. This morning we went to visit two traditional Mayan villages - San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan, part of the Tzotzil community. It was bitterly cold.

You could take a tour bus so they can do safely the return trips at night. On the outside, the church of San Juan Chamula looks like most any Christian church of its time period yet when our guide asked us why we though the giant cross outside the church was painted green, we quickly realized that the Chamula church was anything but typical (Mayans paint the crosses green in homage to Mother Earth and The Sacred Tree of the Maya). To retrieve the missing soul, the shaman offer the life of the chicken in exchange for the stolen pieces. One of the most interesting stops on a recent trip through Chiapas was in a small town just outside San Cristobal de las Casas called San Juan Chamula. Tucked into the Chiapan highlands, Chamula is one of Mexico’s few autonomous townships, with a startlingly high If you’re particularly spiritual, this is the place for you, as shamanism is believed in and practised, while the surrounding forests are said to be filled with spirits.

This also applies when taking photos of locals, who remain wary of outsiders – absolutely do not take their photos without first asking for permission. On the flip side, the Spanish Catholics found it easier to establish control if they allowed the natives to weave their beliefs into the Catholic traditions.

Some areas of Ireland and France still have it. I’ll give you the lowdown on it.