The traditional betrothal ceremony

Chapter Two: The culture of the Maya Ixil 

9. The traditional betrothal ceremony

When a girl reaches an agreement with a young man, he lets her parents know that they will be coming to ask for her hand. His parents look for a Mayan priest to ask for the girl’s hand, and the boy arrives accompanied by his parents and some other family members. They bring a liter of guaro that they serve in little cups to the Mayan priest. When they are near the home of the girl, they kneel down three times before reaching the door. Each time they kneel they speak about the king and queen of their ancestors. The principal king used to set down the conditions for his daughter’s marriage. They come to ask once and then again a second time. On the third occasion, the girl’s parents let them enter the house. The boy’s family bring five liters of guaro that they share with the parents, uncles and aunts, and grandparents of the young people. The parents of the young man and the Mayan priest come again the following day to reach an agreement about what the boy’s family will bring on the next visit. After about ten days, they bring the girl’s family 12 liters of guaro, firecrackers, and firebombs. The parents and invited relatives drink the alcohol in small cups until they have finished eight liters. They leave two liters for the deceased family members and two for those who are absent for some reason and could not come. When all the relatives of the boy return to their homes, they arrive drunk, just like the relatives of the girl.

When there is agreement between the young people they are united at once. If the parents of the young man requested the hand of the young woman without the young man and woman having known each other or having spoken before, then they have to bring 30 tamales and a pot of turkey stew, and, in addition, another pot of meat for the girl’s parents. But the day before the girl is committed to the young man when they bring the things to her parents, she goes in front of the invited relatives with the ceremonial huipil on her head and she carries the collar of the huipil to the house for them to see. And for a number of days she brings food to the house of her parents every morning.