By Agencia EFE
Guatemala, 22 feb (EFE) .- The Indians of Guatemala, descendants of the ancient Mayan culture and who represent 42 percent of the 13 million people, demanded today rain and peace for this country, at the beginning of the year 5126 of the new era, as measured by Ab measured 'or Mayan solar calendar.
priests and spiritual leaders of the country's indigenous peoples, invoked "our grandparents, the heart of the earth, and the heart of heaven", which called for "peace of our people, by the rain for our crops, "during a celebration of the new year held at the Mayan ceremonial center Kaminal Juyú, west of Guatemala City.
The Ab ' considered one of the most accurate and sophisticated mechanisms for measuring the time that humanity has known, like the Gregorian calendar covers a period of 365 days, but with the difference that is divided into 18 months of 20 days each over a period of 5 days called "Wayeb '."
The "Wayeb '" which started last February 17 and ended last night, is the period of "adjustment" of the time, which is used to reflect on the events of the year ends, and "redirect" the future and project goals for next year.
The Mayan calendar is calculated through the cycles of rain, the planting and cultivation of corn, food in the Maya based their diet as well as periods of hunting and fishing.
year 5126 which begins today, will be held by the shipper Kej (deer), that within the Maya cosmology represents authority, and one of four brothers who according to the Popol Vuh ( sacred book of the Maya) were assigned by the operator to hold the four cardinal points of heaven and avoid this fall on the ground.
Ceremonies similar to those in Kaminal Juyú were held in different communities in the country, with the participation of the "fathers" and "nannies" (grandparents), priests and spiritual guides, that knowledge and the wisdom acquired over their lifetimes, representing figures of respect and authority among the population.
In these ceremonies, in which participants also called "for all mankind" to "mother earth and nature, which have offended, to continue providing us is food, peace and health, fire is a of its key elements.
"The fire is purifying. So is the center of the four directions from which we call Mother Nature, the heart of heaven, heart of earth, air and water, "he told Efe Cirilo Perez, Ambassador-old Maya and Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala.
The priests and elders gather around a huge bonfire fed with colored candles, "which create light", honey and sugar "that give us life," incense of various kinds species, coffee, cocoa, resins, snuff, spirits and flowers.
The Maya also measured the time using the "Tzolkin, or sacred period, which lasts 260 days, and the" katun ", a mechanism for measuring long count 20, as part of the so-called "long count" and integrate the "Bak'tun" 5,200-year period that will end on December 21, 2012.
That day, Perez said, "is not the end of the world, a catastrophe or something apocalyptic as some have misunderstood."
Instead, he said, "this is the end of a new era, a change of leadership, new and good things, improvements to humanity, more peace and tranquility."
The start of the new era, according to the Mayan calendar began in the year 3113 BC. That day, according to the Popol Vuh, begins "the latest creation of the world", in which the man made of corn "begins the process of improving humanity.
