ANCIENT MAYAN CHILDHOOD CELEBRATIONS AND OCCASIONS
Birth
Mayan families took time to celebrate important events such as birth. Shortly after the child was born a priest would come and baptise them. When the girls were three months old they would celebrate the representation of three stones of the home fireplace.
Ceremonies
There was a ceremony called a 'Coming of Age Ceremony'. Girls did this when they were 12 and boys did it when they were 14. The priest would cut a white bead from the boy's hair and removed a string of red shells from the girl's waist. They did this to represent their current young age. This ritual was an important event and afterwards a big feast was prepared for everyone who came.
Sacrifices
Mayan people held sacrifices of little children to their gods. Their sacrifices usually would take place on the first appearance of the Planet Venus or simply to please the Sun. They believed that offering the pure soul of the children to the gods would bring them good luck and avoid bad luck.
Marriage
Men usually got married around 20 years old and Girls usually got married at youngest 14 years old. Gifts were exchanged after the civil and religious ceremonies. Marriage was arranged between adults and priests but not often by two people who have fallen in love.
Men usually got married around 20 years old and Girls usually got married at youngest 14 years old. Gifts were exchanged after the civil and religious ceremonies. Marriage was arranged between adults and priests but not often by two people who have fallen in love.