One of Guatemala’s top four tourism centers, ChichicastenangoIs renowned for its crafts market. Which draws buyers and sellers from far and wide, Chichicastenango, or “chichi”, was named by Mexican interpreters to a thorny plant that growsin the area. On Thursdaysand Sundays each week, the plaza of this Maya-Quiche town is converted into a bustling market packet with vendors selling traditional handicrafts, including hand-woven textiles, hand-carved masks, ceramics, jewelryand much more.

Visitors to Chichicastenango may visit two religious shrines, important sites of worship for area residents. The first, theSanto Tomas Cathedral, bounds one side of the central plaza and wasbuilt in 1540. Worshippers burn native copal incense and say prayerson the churchsteps before entering thebuilding to kneelon the flagstone floor strewn withpine needles , where they light candles and say more prayers. Within this same church , the manuscript of the Popol Vuh, Guatemala’sgreatest literary work, was discovered byfather FranciscoXimènez whenhe served in Chichicastenangofrom 1701-03. The manuscript, which was writtenby an anonymous Maya author shortly after the Spanish conquest, contains the legends and historyof the Maya Quichè people.

Another important religious monument, known as Pascual Abaj, stands on a small, pine-covered hill just a few minutes walk from the cathedral. Pascual Abaj is a stone carved with human features, standing about two feet high and probably dating to before the conquest. worshipper burn candles and incense near the stone deity, while praying for good crops and health.

Every year, Chichicastenango celebrates it’s town fair from December 14 to 21. One of the highlights of the fair is the Palo volador, a tall pole which young men climb before spitaling back to the ground, held by an attached rope. Chichicastenango is one of the few places in Guatemala where visitors will see the marimba de tecomates, which uses gourd resonators rather than the wooden resonator boxes of modern marimbas.