The Dance of the Serpent

DANCE OF THE SERPENT IN MOMOSTENANGO

The dance you see in the video has a very ancient origin, that is to say, it’s of pre- Hispanic origin; it was danced before the arrival of the Spanish here in our land.  Known as “TZULAB” (CLOWNS) in Momostenango, it has another name in other Mayan towns. This ceremonial dance used to be performed on a Mayan Calendar Holiday; when the Spanish arrived, they forced the native people to perform it on the date of celebrations of Christian origin. 

A long time ago, when our ancestors danced with a serpent, they borrowed it from Mother Nature (God World), they borrowed it through a series of ceremonies in order to dance with the serpent without getting bit; they were going to return it after the dance.

[God World is a K’iche Mayan expression which alludes to the innate divinity in nature and in all that is.]    

The meaning of the dance is honoring Mother Earth for all the benefits she gives us.  The serpent symbolizes wisdom in Native American Mayan Cosmovision. This dance is a great [source of] pride that is still preserved in our town, only it is no longer performed on a Mayan Calendar date.    

This dance was performed in many indigenous Mayan towns such as:

• La Esperanza = Quetzaltenango
• Sololá
• San Antonio Ilotenango = Quiche’
• San Andrés Xecul = Totonicapán
• San Francisco el Alto = Totonicapán
• Totonicapán
• San Juan Ostuncalco
• Chiquilaja = Quetzaltenango
• Cunen = Quiche’

Currently, only two K’iche towns heroically preserve this Dance of the Serpent: Momostenango and San Bartolo Aguas Calientes [both in the Department of] Totonicapan.  [San Bartolo Hot Springs]   

It’s a social and cultural obligation to support this authentic and ancient dance of these Mayan lands so that it not disappear; it has a great history and origin. We are only writing what is most essential and brief about the Dance of the Serpent in Momostenango.

Translated into the English by Anita Garr