Preserving Guatemala’s Ancient Dance of the Gods

Adorned in hand-carved masks and animal hides, the dancers bob and weave before delighted onlookers who’ve traveled from near and far. This is Baile del Venado, one of many Mayan dances integral to Guatemalan history and religion. The “Deer Dance” signifies the coexistence of humans, animals and the greater natural world; and it blesses the lives, work and harvests of those who perform it. In Patzún, Guatemala, villagers perform the Deer Dance the day before the Feast of Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday celebrated throughout Central and South America.
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[@planetarygo11]

The Guatemalan's People is amazing I love my country and my Mayan Origin.

[@planetarygo11]

@Jaqueline Perez Baten what do u mean? thats kinda rude

[@haksmaks7925]

You are real mayan right my Guatemalan friend? Been always amased by your people. Hope to come one day its on wish list.

[@selvinsworld]

@Jaqueline Perez Baten my parents are fully guatemalan but im american. i would love to go and learn ab my culture and traditions

[@sirjamesgalway4534]

Agreed I love Guatemala it is my home

[@punk1attitude]

Same, lo mismo

[@julissa.ibarra]

i love it when i see my culture shown on big channels 🇬🇹❤️

[@nerdd5160]

Guatemala will live!

[@devinmorales7949]

Inspire our culture 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@nickc3657]

I always smile when I see an indigenous culture that’s survived colonialism 🧡

[@aus-li]

Nick C I bet you’ll cry when you finally notice Africa.

[@nickc3657]

VoidX *opens an atlas and starts sobbing uncontrollably*

[@aus-li]

Nick C Lol XD I’m glad ya got my joke.

[@aus-li]

Olivia Woloshyn I’m referencing to when West Africa was forced into slavery and were brought to America. But, most of the population and indigenous people still survived.

[@aus-li]

Olivia Woloshyn I mean, there are still many tribes at risk, in certain parts of the world. Living on this planet is “shitty”, imo. Not all “hope” is lost though, because as I said, humanity is not as weak as we’d like to believe.

[@aracely612]

As a Mayan native, I love seeing my culture recognized🥰

[@paige8441]

This is a beautiful video. So much spirit and energy in their culture. This is an amazing video about how they use dance to tell history. I love it so much. Thank you for reading!

[@chato1418]

Proud to be a Guatemlan 🔵⚪🔵⚪

[@imadasmone8915]

Its always breathtaking to see the efforts on sustaining unique cultures... thankyou GBS.. Keep up the great work and continue to inspire us..

[@Coelacantha]

What an interesting tradition! I love their costumes, indigenous americans have such a colorful heritage and I'm happy to be able to see a part of it❤

[@DM-qo6qr]

This comment is from 2 years ago so you may not see this- please refrain from describing traditional outfits as costumes. It is not a costume, it’s an outfit that represents our culture, history, struggle, emotions, and so much more.

[@chepemasacuata1]

As a Guatemalan most people in my country haven’t heard jack shit about this dance but hey this is pretty cool and awesome :]

[@storming.]

Andreluchi same

[@LolitsAir]

Same, I am Guatemalan and I had no idea this existed

[@mase5995]

Same here and I am also Guatemalan. Only thing I know is how to say Thanks to god in the ancient mayan language

[@epiphonecasino5903]

Well yeah cause most of us adopted more Spanish culture. It didn't help when the government try to get rid of all the Mayans in the 1900s.

[@littlebrowny]

I have but it's sad to see so many of our people not practicing rituals or cultural things and instead they go to Christian churches and don't know that it was forced upon our people and after many generations they are so blinded.

[@hijodelmaize6084]

In my heart I have a sadness 😢 there is a lot of techniques of weaving that I know. I can weaving a hammock, backstrap weave, floor loom weave, there is many art that no other of my mayan Guatemalan people have seen. It was pass down secretly from my grandparents. And I'm the only one in the family that inherited it. Everyone else just wants to adopt the American way. And I came to realize that everything that I know will die with me. Even the old techniques and history that was wiped out by the religious people. Maybe one day I will document everything that I know, textile weaving, Spinning dying, woodcarving, hammock making, clay making, very rare hat making with thin reed and cotton thread. Even if any body ask my people about this old techniques nobody will know how its done. There is one textile that was handed down in my family over 6 generation and my grandfather was the last to inherited. But he decidido to take it with him to the grave. But I was the only granchild to see it. And he showed me how to make it. And one day I will make one and pass it down to my generation.

[@kttaylor3109]

It is sad to hear that you have no one in your family to share these traditional techniques with. My mother is from Guatemala and I am passionate about decolonizing my education. I want to see indigenous practices kept alive, but I don't always know how to help.

[@hijodelmaize6084]

@@kttaylor3109 yea i know what you mean. It's not easy but there is hope of one day.

[@hijodelmaize6084]

@Lilly Allen thx😁 and yea for sure I'm going to document it one day

[@kushagraverma6456]

Im not Mayan neither guatemalan. But I really wanna learn all of that, can you still teach me pleaseeeee

[@hijodelmaize6084]

@@kushagraverma6456 sure... it will be a pleasure 🙏

[@steff2437]

I have been trying to reconnect with my ancestors for so long. Thank you for this video and helping me to learn more about my estranged fathers people.

[@thejudgingtrash]

This is so cool! It is so important to preserve these ancient traditions for future generations!

[@LolitsAir]

I am from Guatemala, and I had no idea this was a thing

[@JustJulyo]

Ariela D chapin! 🇬🇹

[@ljschannel3226]

What!!!

[@rebeccagish5720]

What part are you from?

[@nerdd5160]

La utz awach :D

[@deadlocs8474]

Same

[@rd412]

Great great story I think you missed an important icon on the altar, they not only have the image of Jesus, they have an important icon for the indigenous community. Not all of us are believers of Christianity. Thanks for the video!

[@samuels5225]

In love with Guatemala

[@e.bomann6942]

Great short documentary. Thanks for that!

[@ljschannel3226]

Whos mayan here

[@wilmorales06]

I’m so proud of my culture I’m maya mam.

[@Thelonelyloser1]

I am half Mayan (does that count?)

[@ljschannel3226]

@@Thelonelyloser1 yes mam

[@j5545]

Hey guys you're the best news\stories source! I'd very much love to work for you! You always make my days better, more interesting, giving me things to talk about with everyone I know

[@MoxieBeast]

wow these visuals are amazing.

[@JustJulyo]

Hey Chapins! My people! Órale

[@notluna0613]

JustJulyo same here

[@tato0006]

Ive done this im from guatemala

[@l.b.437]

yess feature more central and south american culture! and caribbean!

[@runnerhicom]

Great video. Thanks.

[@saragorn5033]

Nice I love the food as well as the culture

[@syd7166]

Beautiful

[@awesomejf03]

This is a very interesting video.

[@WaterHearted]

It looks beautiful.

[@lucasmace1077]

I’m from Guatemala

[@matthewmann8969]

Guarded and regarded

[@angelicascritters8958]

I'm from Guatemala

[@aracely612]

Same, moved to the US when I was 11 four years ago. I love seeing my culture, especially as a native being recognized🥰

[@animegirl7899]

thsi actually makes me feel happy to be Guatemalan 🇬🇹

[@thenextprodigy815]

I just went to my first music festival.. Got so litt, but all my behavior literally was captured here.. I had no idea, the Ancestors Truly watch over us 💯🙏

[@sz7463]

amazing

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Well this is interesting

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this is cool

[@uchihamp4245]

i love my culture !!!

[@harrygeorge5550]

Please remember the old ways. The ways of our ancestors

[@Senura101]

Respect ✊

[@man_g4me]

shoutout to them, from france aiiight

[@H0ldUp]

WHYYY it is so early where I live it is 2:00am

[@DM-qo6qr]

“Trajes” does not translate to costume. What we wear is not a costume it’s a representation of our culture. I would change the subtitles to this, and any other video in which the word “costume” is used to describe traditional outfits. Disfraz” translates to costume.

[@Anish20778]

Make video of ancient newari dances of nepal, like bhairab dance of pokhara

[@itsaaronlolz]

todavía tengo mi apellido indijeno. mi familia son de chimaltenago y de el salvador.

[@CacaoJunajpu]

there is no credit in this video! or any of your videos for that matter. How does that work; does GBS buy the copyright from the artists?

[@s_e_t_z3248]

I’m early!

[@jumpingjupiter]

Cultura

[@andrej1551]

Nice first :)

[@CardinalKaos]

Thats true mana

[@1985collado]

My people

[@christianyoutubeian1323]

2 vids in a row 2 before justin y's In a row

[@MrWorldWidePitbull305]

That's a good squatting technique bruv 0:16

[@talkj2125]

Dear , I am writing to inquire about your permission to use your video clip. This is , the Korean TV show which is broadcasted on JTBC (Korean TV channel). With your permission, I'd like to use your video to introduce Guatemala’s Ancient Dance. It will be broadcasted at 9PM on 14 August 2023. Thank you for your kind attention and look forward to hearing from you.

[@darkdragon9833]

Did anyone notice the Batman jacket in 0:11 ?

[@appleng05]

7th

[@littlebrowny]

Great story I just wish we continue our traditions and don't let Christian religion kill our ways.

[@yomama4748]

16th

[@ryanc1124]

33rd

[@nplpo726]

Second

[@xijoe5784]

2:54 💀💀💀

[@aaronmonto8150]

4th

[@christianyoutubeian1323]

Aaron Monto no me

[@vizualmrs]

That's not Catholic or Christian. They're confused on where the line is drawn. That's strictly an ancient Mayan ritual. Nothing to do with Jesus here.

[@miroslavasparuhov2570]

fed Z Listen to the video. You're the confused one. They never said the deer dance is catholic.

[@watcherandgamerkyle1507]

Did u just watch the video and dont know how to read respect them.

[@saptakmukherjee3051]

Jesus is a demon

[@lauraalvarez8874]

As a Guatemalan I must say: During colonialism our native indigenous tried hard to protect their traditions, the way they look, the way they behave, the clothes, the food... Natives were slaves, working hard long hours in the fields, they only paid with food and a place to sleep. Spanish peolple even took away our family identities by giving us last names, two last names. Every owner of a piece of land, a group of native slaves gave them their last name to "identify" us.... like a property. They tried to force Christianity into the native culture, but as ancient culture the Mayans were polytheists and took Christ as another god to pray, so ancient Mayan rites as well as Toltecas, Incas and another latin american have survived thru years.

[@ljschannel3226]

Jesus was a symbol to us mayan when our ancestors saw the cross they saw that the were carrying the symbol of the center of the universe which is jesus ,and they made and added that symbol to their signs

[@MusicIan423]

I'm not real.

[@thewarriorofdubstep]

*This is a civilized western influenced culture they wear pants and button shirts.... There are still Guatemalans that keep tradiditions and dances in thier family's....* *The Mayan Dances should be done in original clothing with zero western influence!!!*

[@satanshameer690]

Pants and shirts are from middle East and China just like ammunition , guns, 'western music' and so much more. It's funny how Europeans created World history in a way they are viewed as supreme. Whites are good case for alien invasion and comets

[@jasonkidd8516]

🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@JustJulyo]

Gaming Guy lol Not quite more like 🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹🇬🇹

[@dianac.6753]

Why do Mexicans ALWAYS have the need to do shit like this?

[@ljschannel3226]

What is this a competition

[@thewarriorofdubstep]

@@dianac.6753 Because they feel threatened. Find a video about Guatemala where there isn't a mexican talking crap. They feel the urge to compete. Its competition.

[@dianac.6753]

HAIL HYDRA it’s pathetic. They rarely ever do this with other Latin American countries it’s almost always Guatemala and occasionally Honduras and El Salvador. They should worry about themselves instead of acting all high and mighty with us

[@xlxfx]

As humans since the stone age we've always been about progression and moving forward; expanding our minds to other possibilities. Do you think these people would grasp and accept any chance of their worship being a complete fallacy? If not, are they 'with it' enough to be considered human? Aren't they still neanderthal?

[@Booty_Warrior]

x They are just keeping tradition that their ancestors have passed on for thousands of years. At no point do they mention the worship of a god. Just the relationship between man and beast.

[@firenationfiles2063]

Beautiful