Sonmany people all over the world, at so many times during history, havendepended on weather because they depended on their gardens and fieldsnfor their food. They couldn’t just run out to a market to buynfood—they had to grow it.
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nAndna frost at the wrong time of the year could kill the entire garden.nIt could take out an entire field of corn.
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nFornthe Cuchumatan Indians of Guatemala, the very real possibility ofnlosing a crop to frost inspired a ceremony that was meant to protectnthe crops—and therefore their lives.
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nThenSealing the Frost Ceremony begins as the prayer makers lead thenvillagers up to a cliff where the frost is said to live. One of thenprayer makers dares to do a risky job: he is lowered over the cliffnedge by a rope tied around his waist. When he sees a crack in thenrock, he fills the crack with cement. This is supposed to seal frostnin so that it cannot come and kill the young corn plants.
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nThennthe daring prayer maker is hauled up again, and he leads thenprocession back down to the village. n
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nLearnnabout Guatemala
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nIfnyou ever travel to Guatemala, you might climb a volcano, shop forncolorful handicrafts, and visit Mayan ruins.
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- National Geographic Kids offers anslideshow about Guatemala.
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nHere is a short video capturing somenlava flowing from one of Guatemala’s volcanos.
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- Growing Up Bilingual features severalnclever crafts inspired by Guatemalan handicrafts.
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nAnd here is a website thatntells the legend of the Mayan Trouble Dolls.
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- Explorenthe ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal with this wonderful video,nand maybe even this virtual tour.
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nChecknout this previous post about Guatemala.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBuddha Day
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nHana Matsuri, or Flower Festival, in Japan
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Anniversary of the discovery of Venus de Milo
Anniversary of the discovery of Venus de Milon
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