El+Norte






 * People of Guatemala : **

Guatemala's population, the largest in any Central American country, is almost evenly divided between Native Americans and ladinos, but also includes small groups descended from African and European immigrants. Within the population are widely varied ways of life, differing between ladinos and indigenous people, between urban and rural residents, between the more affluent and the very poor. The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, into which many indigenous Guatemalans have incorporated traditional forms of worship. An estimated 40% and 1% of the population practices Protestantism and traditional Mayan religions, respectively.

The Economy of Guatemala is agriculture based. Two-thirds of its exports are agricultural products and half of the labor force is involved in this sector. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products.
 * Economy of Guatemala : **

Guatemala's culture is a unique product of Native American ways and a strong Spanish colonial heritage. About half of Guatemala's population is mestizo (known in Guatemala as ladino), people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. Ladino culture is dominant in urban areas and is heavily influenced by European and North American trends. But unlike many Latin American countries, Guatemala still has a large indigenous population, the Maya that has retained a distinct identity. Deeply rooted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, many indigenous people speak a Mayan language, follow traditional religious and village customs, and continue a rich tradition in textiles and other crafts. The two cultures have made Guatemala a complex society that is deeply divided between rich and poor. This division has produced much of the tension and violence that have marked Guatemala's history.  []
 * Arts, Culture and Music of Guatemala : **

=[|Indigenous Languages and Tribes]=

Cultural Dress of the Maya [] Mayan women have been weaving for centuries. When the Spaniards arrived, they were astounded by the brightly colored dress of the Mayas. Mayan women traditionally wear traje, which is a combination of a skillfully woven, multicolored blouse called a huipil of a corte, a woven wraparound skirt that reaches to the ankles, and is held together by faja (sash) at the waist. Women also wear some form of headdress, such as pañuelo, on their heads, or cintas, four- or five-foot-long colorful ribbons that are braided into their shiny, long, black hair. A lengthy rectangular rebozo (shawl) and a decorated delantal (apron) are also part of traje. There are also small, silver or gold, round hoops for earrings and, in some areas, necklaces made from glass beads. The huipil is a distinct work of art, woven or embroidered, that may take months to complete. It is distinguished by its design, style, pattern and concept. It varies according to region and individual creativity or taste. The corte, which is woven on a treadle or footloom, is composed of about five yards of material that is wrapped several times around a woman's lower body. Although there are certain colors and designs that are traditionally associated with a particular Mayan village, each huipil is woven individually on a backstrap loom. No two huipiles are identical. The cortes, however, generally are not distinctive. When the conquistadors arrived, men also wore colorfully woven apparel, but this is true only in certain areas today. Traditionally, one could guess the village of origin by the colors and design of the huipil that a Mayan woman wore. For instance, a bright huipil of predominantly orange and red, interwoven with various minor colors such as green and blue, with a specific geometric pattern, identifies the wearer as a woman from San Antonio Aguascalientes. There is proof through pre-Columbian representations that this was a tradition in place long before the conquistadors ever set foot in the Americas. Traje, or traditional clothing, has deep cultural significance for the Mayas. It represents a tie to the past and to their ancestors. For historic, political and economic reasons, it is mostly women who are the bearers of this tradition. The daily lives of Mayan women of Guatemala represent the continuance of the customs and traditions of the ancestors. They also represent new survival strategies as they face challenges brought on by shifting political, economic, social and natural factors. One may say that they adopt from their ancestors what is necessary for survival while looking for alternative ways to adapt to changing circumstances. Their lives vary greatly, depending on their particular socioeconomic or political status, the regions in which they live, the time period, their religion, the personal decisions that they make and other factors. However, speaking in general terms, Mayan women's everyday lives are a struggle for survival against poverty, hunger, discrimination and violence from within and without. They are on their feet daily from dawn to dusk, tending to a multitude of domestic tasks. However, they also keep their eyes on the future. At times, however, their traditional ways come into conflict with modern Ladino society, and Mayas are obliged to make difficult choices. || 
 * Mayan Women's Dress