Today,
traditional Mayan clothing and textiles are seen in the Maya people of
Guatemala, Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), Belize, and El Salvador. The
contemporary Mayan civilizations reside in the rural areas of
Guatemala. It has always been the women who have woven the clothing of
the group that they belong to. The way a garment is stitched usually
symbolizes a particular village or a cultural group. Thus, even if the
way a man's shirt or a woman's skirt is cut differs with each
community, yet the basic elements of the traditional Mayan clothing
remain the same.
Women
The
huipil has been a part of Mayan women's attire since ancient times, and
dominates the traditional attire in Guatemala even today. Huipil is a
Spanish word for 'blouse', and is a loose decorative blouse made of
lightweight cotton. Traditionally, it is weaved following the brocade
pattern, and often comprises different colors. The blouse does not have
distinguished sleeves. The corte is a skirt woven with treadle-loomed
material, and is still worn below the huipil. The skirt can be woven
from one piece of fabric or from various smaller pieces stitched
together too. This wraparound skirt is tied to the huipil at the waist
with a faja, and together forms a traje. Mayan women often tie a hair
ribbon called a cinta to their head, which also has a cultural
significance. Female Attire
Men
Men
that belonged to the Mayan group of people wore a breechcloth made of
cotton. Today, they wear certain stylized options, which show the
Spanish influence. The men also sport palm hats to beat the heat during
summer. They typically wear white or multicolored shirts, and knee or
ankle-length pants. The clothes are embellished with animal- or
human-themed designs. One specific motif of a diamond, representing the
sun, is the main design element for the huipils. A specific ceremonial
huipil is specially designed for traditional occasions, and is adorned
only by the wives of religious officials. Woolen blankets or an
'overshirt' of the traditional wool tunic are also a part of the
clothing that men wear. Male Attire
The tzute is yet another
garment that is worn by the men and women as well. These brocaded
cloths can be used as scarves or shawls, and do not have a specific
usage. Both men and women wear sandals. Earlier, the sandals were made
of animal skin, but now with urban influence, they have been replaced
by the ones available in stores. The people of every village do not use
bags (bolsa) and belts (cinturón), and only the main parts of the
clothing such as pants, shirts and skirts are seen in each community.
For
the Mayan people, every garment is considered to be very sacred, and
the weaves denote a kind of spirituality. They believe that a garment
defines a person, and hence the clothing is given great importance.
Therefore, every piece of the attire forms a personal and cultural
identity for the Mayans.
