San Simón or Maximón

Who was this guy? For him the catholic curch in Zunil is closed. I talked to a Guatemalan in a bar here in Xela, he told me San Simón liked women, alcohol and cigarettes. He is a part of the Maya culture. But for me, he is a lot of question marks.

San Simón in Zunil

Why he has white skin? Why people adore him like a god (a man who oviously only thought about women and alcohol)? Why he should bring good health, good crops, and marriage counseling, and so on? Why the catholic church closes for him?...

We went last Thursday 28.18.10 to Zunil, a village just 20 minutes from Xela. There we visited the celebration for San Simón! We entered the house and people were waiting in a line to give San Simón rum and money. After this, they prayed in front of him. Behind the house played the Marimba band ´Fidel Funes´. I liked it, the music was influenced by little bit Ska! And so much people there, especially drunken guys! Crazy!

Party behind the house

So, after we left, I asked some questions to our guide. So, San Simón is every year in another house! There exist something like an association and the membership is expensive! Why? To pay for the band, stage, technics...
What happens with the rum inside of San Simón after the celebration? Well, the family of the house, where San Simón stayed, has enough alcohol for the next couple of months!

in front of San Simóns house

But nobody could explain me, why people believe in San Simón! The thing me confuses most is: He is white!!!!

More on wikipedia again? Here: Maximón wiki english

beginning of Zunil

Lynn (Canada) how it is possible to be
that huge? ;)

And to me to learn the different ways to say hitchhike:
España - autostop
Guatemala - jalon
Mexico - aventon
South America - hacer dedo