The Witch c’Oxol: An Ancient Legend and Other Mayan Folktales

The wonderful tales offered in this bilingual collection provide readers with a new set of living stories that give insight into the current traditional ways and daily habits of Guatemala’s Tz’utujil Maya people--traditions that are fast disappearing.

Anthropologist James D. Sexton and Maya storyteller Pedro Cholotío Temó have worked together for more than fifty years, collaborating on seven previous books, including Mayan Folktales: Folklore from Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Their latest collaboration, The Witch C’oxol: An Ancient Legend and Other Mayan Folktales, offers a wonderful bilingual story collection that ispriceless in cultural content.

Readers will encounter tales about the Mayan calendar and shapeshifting naguals and meet characters such as King Tecún Umán and his powerful witch C’oxol as well as the early Spaniards who deceived the Maya out of their gold and silver. Some stories reinforce cultural values such as cleverness and compassion, while others call for respectful conduct while hunting or visiting enchanted hills. The stories reinforce traditional beliefs, reflect much about the natural habitat, and encourage us to pay attention to our dreams.

Pedro Cholotío Temó is the first principal of San Juan la Laguna on the shore of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.

James D. Sexton is a Regents’ Professor emeritus of anthropology at Northern Arizona University.