May Geo-quiz winner
23 May 2009 | Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
VC
CONGRATULATIONS Kate Cross de Korte. The answer is Maximon or San Simon and he resides in a town called Zunil in central Guatemala. Kate's prize is in the mail!
Every year on November the 1st Maximon is moved into a new house where he is looked after by several attendants. Visitors to the shrine take cigars and Quezalteca; a strong local hooch. The effigy always has a smoking cigar or cigarette in his mouth and candles and offerings burn in the room where he resides. It is advised to ask discreetly for La Casa de Maximon because the town's people are protective of their anti-saint and the utmost respect must be shown if you visit the shrine yourself.
In life, some say that he was a Franciscan friar who chased after young indigenous girls therefore his effigy has no legs. He represents the vices of the world and many supplicants ask his help to rid them of these in their own lives.
At Easter he plays a major role in Santiago Atitlan nearby Zunil. On Monday of Holy week his effigy is taken to the lake shore where it is washed. On Tuesday he is dressed in a new felt hat and western style clothes. On Wednesday he is taken to a chapel where he waits until Good Friday for a symbolic confrontation with a Christ effigy in the main plaza. Quite a guy is Maximon. Thanks to everyone who had a try at this one. Keep a lookout for June's Geo-Quiz sometime after the 1st.