Mayan Folktales

by James D. Sexton

A stunning collection of thirty-five folktales from Guatemala which transport the reader to the haunting stories of witches and shamans, spiritualists and apies, Naguales, or persons who have the power to change into animal forms and devils.  These stories are educational, instructive, mysterious, wise and sometimes simply funny.

Genres: Mythology, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Indigenous, History, Nonfiction

265 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 1992

Reviews

[Tamara Agha-Jaffar]

Mayan Folktales translated and edited by James D. Sexton is a collection of folktales obtained in collaboration with Ignacio, a Guatemalan Indian whom Sexton met in 1970. Ignacio’s good relationship with the elderly in his village was invaluable in encouraging them to open up to him and to share their stories, stories that had been transmitted orally for centuries.

The 34 folktales in the collection are diverse. Some are for entertainment purposes only while others are for edification. Through these folktales, we learn about Mayan cultural values: the social obligations toward others; maintaining the proper attitude while participating in religious ceremonies and festivals; the gendered division of labor; the importance of sharing and compassion; the virtue of hard work; the proper way to grow crops; and respect for the environment. There is also a story of creation, which includes a modified version of the fall of first man and first woman.

The stories are populated with talking animals, humans transformed into animals and animals into humans, kettles and pans complaining about their burnt bottoms, talking beans and corn, tricksters and shamans, dragons and giants, and priests whose behavior is decidedly unpriestly. Some of the stories are funny; some are bawdy; some are edifying; but all are entertaining.

Recommended.

[Riq Hoelle]

The only really enjoyable story is about a priest who came to lunch. Briefly summarized, a couple who never celebrate their common birthday decided one day to nevertheless do it, if only once. However, they are so odious that the only person who agrees to attend their party is a priest, looking forward to a free lunch. On the day the man goes out to get things for the party and during this time the wife roasts two ducks in a pan and engages in a little adultery with a male friend of hers. While the couple are in the bedroom, the dog smells the ducks, grabs one and eats it. The man emerges from the bedroom first, sees the remaining duck, think it's for him, eats it and leaves. A little later the wife appears, finding the party lunch totally consumed. What to do? The husband returns home and she tells him that as they will need to carve the ducks, would he please go into the other room and sharpen the knife? While he is doing this the priest arrives. The wife tells the priest that the lunch invite was a lie. In reality her husband plans to cuts off the priest's testicles and kill him! Indeed, you can hear him sharpening his knife even now. The priest runs for his life. The husband, seeing this, asks, where did the priest go? The wife tells him the priest stole two roast ducks and he had better go get them back. The man runs out after him, still holding the knife. Come back, come back, he yells to the priest. I only want one!

[M.]

They’re mostly unedited stories told straight from maya people. They can be a bit confusing to follow at times do to translation and the fact that they are transcribed. However on a personal level, the book is invaluable to me.

[Olivia]

Most people hear "folktales" and think of stories that are basically family friendly. These stories are vulgar and filled with fairly graphic sex and profanity. They were transcribed in the 1970s by someone who was a very poor story teller. Read literally anything else.

[Caitlin Wilson]

review: This book contains many myths and fairytales from demons, to witches, to funny stories. Creatures can turn into different animals or even into demons.
use: Show children different cultures.

[Stacie]

Really enjoyable read of translated folktales from the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala. So many penis and butthole jokes and stories. Missed that when I visited. 😊

[Marju Sepp]

Tõsiselt head muinasjutud ja muistendid maiade elust. Boonuseks erinevate tantsude ja rituaalide kirjeldused. Kusjuures maiade muinasjutte lugedes märkasin sarnasusi Onu Remuse juttude tegelastega, nagu kaval jänes, loll koiott. Nüüd veidi uurinud Onu Remuse lugude tausta, jõudsin järeldusele, et eestlaste poolt armastatud Onu Remuse jutud on vanad indiaani muinasjutud.

[Bridgett]

This book read fast and I enjoyed the stories, especially since I have read little about the folklore of Central America. Some of the tales were rather bawdy.