First Spanish Church |
Salcaja |
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Salcaja is a small town near Xela. It was near here that the Spanish met and slaughtered the Mayan Quiche soldiers sent to defend the territory. The name of the river which flows through the town translates as "River of Blood" because on that day it was red with the blood of slaign Quiche. The Spanish continued on to defeat the Capital of the Quiche territory and then settled the area building the first Spanish church in Central America here in Salcaja. |
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First Spanish Church |
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Salcaja is also one of 2 towns in all of Guatemala where the cloth Mayan women use for their skirts (telas) is made. It is handmade to order as each village has it's own pattern. To make one length of cloth involves up to 15 people, each with their own specific task (known only to them) which has been handed down through the generations. |
White threads are strung out along the river bank to prepare for dying... |
...the threads are tied in specific areas to create the unique pattern for each village. Then the threads are dyed black. When the ties are removed the white pattern has been created. |
Finally, various colors are woven in on hand looms. In order to keep the pattern each thread MUST remain in the correct order. |
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