Storybook Topic Research: Mayan Folktales

For my storybook, I plan on retelling various folktales from Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth, and other Mayan Folktales by Ignacio Bizarro Ujpan and translated by James D. Sexton, found online from OU Libraries. The stories are told by Tzutujil Maya Indian living on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. 

According to Brittanica, the Tzutujil people live agriculturally in districts centered around a main village, which functions as their geographical identity (rather than Guatemalan, Tzutujil, etc.). Their language is similar Kaqchikel and K'iche', other indigenous languages to Guatemala.

This article gives some background on the book and its tales. Many of the have moral messages, but are also entertaining stories about daily life in the region. Prominent themes include dreams, transfiguration of people into animals, race and skin color, and traditional morality.

Right now, I'm considering retelling the stories as if a Tzutujil community member is dreaming them, since dreams seem to be culturally important. This way I can also give the perspective of a contemporary Guatemalan on old tales that appear in their dreams. I plan to use the first story in the book, "Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth: A Tzutuhil Tale," in the introduction, because it says how the Tzutuhils of olden days (before the Spanish came) were wise, peaceful, could disappear into the air, clouds, or below the lake, and could walk on air. The dreams in my retelling will tell the main character the secrets of these Tztutuhils.

I would like to spend more time looking through and picking stories when I have a physical copy of the book, but right now here are stories that I'm thinking of retelling.

Possible Story 1: The Woman Who Died for Three Days and Went to Get Acquainted With Hell: In this story, a wealthy but unkind woman dies, but no one buries her. Three days later she returns a changed woman, having seen the torturous nature of hell and lovely nature of heaven. 

Possible Story 2: Story of an Enchanted Place, Paruchi Abaj: This is a story about a dueno who grants hunters good luck if they come to his place at a certain time, give acceptable gifts, and perform a ritual.

Possible Story 3: The Legend of Francisco Sojuel: A Tzutuhil Story: Francisco Sojuel is spiritually and mentally powerful man who has 13 animal forms and is able to fend off evil shamans, witches, and characoteles. He could speak to God and saints and dreams, receiving otherwise unknowable information. 

Image information: Volcano and Lake Atitlan photo from Catherine Todd on Flickr.