Maya Human Creation Story
Photo courtesy of ancient-origins-net
In honor of August 11th, which is Human Creation Day according to the Mayans, we wanted to tell a story that has been passed down for centuries. Mayans believed that the world was created on this day. This is a story of gods, heroes, and natural elements, and it offers a unique glimpse into the Maya worldview.
The Maya Creation Story
The story begins with the Earth being covered in water. Six deities emerged from the water and began to create the world. They planted a ceiba tree to separate the sky from the Earth, and they created plants and animals. But they were not satisfied. They wanted to create beings who could worship them.
Photo courtesy of monasticdruidry.weebly.com
So the deities created humans from mud and wood. But these humans were not intelligent, and they could not speak. The deities destroyed these humans in a great flood.
The deities tried again, and this time they created humans from corn. These humans were perfect. They were intelligent, they could speak, and they could worship the gods. The deities were pleased, and they gave these humans the world to care for.
The story is still remembered and even to this day the ceiba tree, for example, is sacred in Maya culture, and it represents the connection between the sky, the Earth, and the underworld.
The Maya creation story is a reminder that the Maya people have a deep understanding of the world around them. They see the world as a living organism, and they believe that humans have a responsibility to care for it. The story also teaches us about the importance of balance and harmony in the world.
At Tierra and Lava, a Guatemalan skincare brand, we want to continue to spread awareness about Mayan cultures through our products and words. If you would like to learn more about this topic, I encourage you to read the Popol Vuh or other sources on Maya mythology.
https://maya.nmai.si.edu/sites/default/files/transcripts/the_creation_story_of_the_maya.pdf
https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-folklore/maya-myth-creation-0063