MAYAN WEDDINGS

The ancient marriage rituals between Mayans have been revived as a more spiritual and symbolic option for cementing a relationship between two people.

The Mayan weddings generally take place on a beach or archeological site (for which permission must be obtained ahead of time) in destinations like Cancún, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Xcaret, the Riviera Maya, as in hidden caves in the jungle, or on the outskirts of the Reserva de Sian Ka´an, in the southern part of the state of Quintana Roo.

In accordance with the ancient Mayan rituals, before the wedding celebration it is recommended that the future groom give the bride a muhul (a package of gifts made up of a gold chain, listones (wooden hair barrettes), and a huipil (a traditional, long, sleeveless shirt) so that together they can take a bath of temazcal (a traditional indigenous vapor bath) to help them relax before the wedding day.

When the moment of the grand celebration arrives, both can dress in white, she with her special huipil and he in a ready-made woven suit.  To recreate the perfect environment, full of magic and mysticism, the wedding should take place amidst humo del copal (an aromatic resin considered sacred for purifying the environment), flowers, veils and torches or lamps.  In front of the couple, the chamán (shaman) or Mayan priest will evoke the four elements: water, air, earth and fire, so that their presence may strengthen and bless the union for many years. Finally, the union of the couple is sealed with the exchange of rings or other simple that represents the marriage and pledges.  Later the chamán can sacrifice an animal ? a turkey, chicken, goat or even a cow ? whose preparation begins the banquet and can be accompanied by stuffed cheese, wedding tamales, pickled turkey, chicken pibil (cooked in a barbecue pit), pok chuk (roasted pork) and pozol (a rice beverage).

The music that accompanies the event could be a violin ensemble, guitars or percussion (which dates back to pre-Hispanic times) and the music can even extend beyond the ceremony into the dinner and dance.

The love of Mayan weddings is a mix of innocence, transparency, and depth between the souls, all of which turn into a union of profound significance.  The majority of grand hotels in the Riviera Maya are equipped with wedding consultants capable of finding the suitable location, procedures, and all elements required to organize this type of events.