As for “the mayas” thing, is kinda tricky. The original mayas existed in mesoamerica (Guatemala, México, Honduras, Belice and El Salvador). A big part of the population lived in Guatemala and they are the ones who built the pyramids, temples and sacbés. They were very advanced.

The people vanished from the maya cities because of wars and different conflicts and migrated to other cities less big. Still, some just vanished and others just stayed in small groups.

This descendants of the mayas were the mam, quichés, pocomam, xincas and other groups. The main difference is the original mayas were really gifted in several disciplines while this other groups lived pretty much the same as the “so called mayas” of the present.

When the spanish conquest took place there were only a few powerful “maya groups” and they were defeated. The last capital city was taken over and became the first spanish capital city (Iximché) but the main difference is: this groups were not that advanced and didn’t have all the knowledge as the original mayas did.

A lot of history was lost because of this because this “mayas” didn’t have the continuity of the great maya civilization. Even the language… as the glyphs meaning was unknown for many of this people. Still, some elite knew how to write and read a little of the ancient language (not plenty and not all) but the spanish conquerors burned every trace of documents and threated them to kill them if they teach this “evil non sacred things”.

As a result, if you take a “maya” of the present and ask him about math, science, culture, religion, arquitecture, history of the ancient mayas and astronomy… sadly they know little of it. In fact they CAN’T even understand any of the glyphs or ancient writing.

The first translations of maya writing (ancient maya) was thanks to a russian team or archaeologists.

The “mayas” as they are today are a population divided in several etnic groups with different languages, costumes, religion and traditions.

* Actually the colorful costumes are a result of the spanish conquerors imposing them with the colors and designs, just a distinctive for the “slaves”.

So, the actual “mayas” don’t understand anything about the ancient mayas, they in fact are far descendants.

Hope it helps Is a pretty long and interesting subject to discuss.

*** Remember, Tikal itself was abandoned when the spanish came. In fact they noticed it and talk about it in one chronicle but left it as it is just as many other maya cities also abandoned.

The education system is the same as usual in the center of Huehuetenango (city) around it the little towns have little schools. Some I must say are being supported by churches of different denominations. It could be said that there is little education options over there and just as other parts of Guatemala, the kids study half the year (one year condensed) to keep working the rest of the year (if they even go to school).

About the language this is very misunderstood. They are not mayas. The mayas as “mayas” are gone, extinct. Guatemala and the rest of mesoamerican countrys only have descendants of the mayas.

I don’t remember how many languages there are nor the name of the one spoken over there. But just as most of the country, their native language is often the primary or second one against spanish.

Thanks for stopping by

What do you know about the education system in Huehuetenango? And, do you know the name of the Mayan languages spoken in this region, or the name of the language, if there is only one, spoken by the indigenous Mayans? I read that Spanish is considered their second language. Do you know if this is true?

VIVA GUATEMALA!
VIVA HUEHUETENANGO!!

Si volveré a ése lugar? claro. Con la paz que hay por ahi ni dudarlo. Saludos