Deleted Chapter 12. Rites of Initiation

Where the gods of rain anoint the innocent

Passage on a vessel in the Juan Antonio Valdés Museum, Uaxactun, Guatemala

This was the original Chapter 12 of The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree. It continues the narrative from the original Chapter 11, “The story of One Hun-Ahpú.”

Te gustó la storia de Hun Hunahpú?” Don Francisco turned toward Max. (Did you like the story of One Hunahpú?)

“Yeah, that was awesome! I mean, sí, ¡me gusta!” exclaimed Max. “Can we have another story?”

Don Francisco laughed. “Yes, of course! But this time we ask another child.”

Itzel was vehemently expressing her interest in being that child: her hand raised high to attract attention, she bounced up and down in the hammock.

“Dime, mija.” (Tell me, my child.)

“¡Cuenta la historia de la ceremonia de iniciación!” (Tell the story of the initiation ceremony!)

“Ah, pues esa tiene que contar Doña Victoria,” said Don Francisco, and stepped away from the stool to give the floor to his mother-in-law. (Ah, well this one Doña Victoria will have to tell.)

At first feigning refusal, Doña Victoria then happily obliged and made her way to the wooden stool in the center of the gathering. She, too, brought her jícara, the little gourd of chocolate, and cradled it in her lap as she spoke.

“¡Esta storia sí es bueníssima! Te va a encantar.” Itzel whispered into Max’s ear. (This story is great! You’re going to love it.)

“Bueno. I’m going to tell you the story of the sacred initiation ceremony, called emku. In the old days, in the place they call the Yucatán, not too far away from here, they had a special ceremony to mark the time children enter the world of the adults. It is not really the same like the baptism ceremony of the Catholic Church, but we can call it baptism if you like, okay? Bueno. To receive this ceremony, the child must wait until he has three years, but, he cannot have more than twelve. When the child has the correct age, the parents go to the priest of the village and tell him they want to do the baptism of their child. The priest chooses carefully the day, because usually it is more than one child who is baptized; and it must be a day of good omen for everybody, all the children. Then they choose one of the fathers to host the baptism, and they also choose four Elders, these are old and honored men who will represent the four Chaaks.”

“The four what?” whispered Max.

“Chaaks. Remember? The Maya gods of rain and lightning,” Itzel whispered back.

“Oh, yeah. But I thought there was only one?”

“Actually, there are many. They live in caves and cenotés and they rule over the rain. Some stories say Chaak is kind of a god of cacao. Well, Ek Chuah is the real god of cacao, but Chaak, he… umm, well, we do a festival for him, Hobnil, and Ek Chuah in the month of Muan when we plant cacao trees. Mi papá puede explicartelo mejor.” (My Dad can explain better.)

Wow. A chocolate god. That’s even better than the God of Maize, thought Max. He made a mental note to start a campaign to establish a chocolate god in his school. Hmm… the teachers’ll probably shoot that idea down… but the chocolate shop won’t! Mom knows them. I’m sure they’ll love it.