In Chinautla, a predominantly Indigenous town on the outskirts of Guatemala City, clay is more than a material—it is a living archive. This December, that archive was reopened as 30 community members, including young people, adults, and educators, gathered to learn the art of crafting traditional clay nativity scenes rooted in Poqomam Maya culture.
The workshop, organized by Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports through the Casa de Desarrollo Cultural de Chinautla, was part of a broader national effort to showcase Indigenous cultural identities. Held from December 1 to 9, the seven-session course invited participants to work with ancestral techniques while exploring the deeper spiritual and symbolic meanings embedded in each figure of the nativity.
For the Poqomam people, nativity scenes are storytelling devices—each figure reflecting elements of daily life, cosmology, and communal values. During the sessions, participants learned the significance of these elements within the Poqomam worldview, reconnecting artistic practice with cultural memory.
Classes took place at the Instituto Nacional de Educación Básica San Julián JV in New Chinautla, where the atmosphere encouraged dialogue across generations. Prior to the workshop, organizers conducted research on the history, symbolism, and traditional materials used by local artisans, ensuring that the process remained faithful to community knowledge and practice.
The impact extended beyond technical skill. Participants described the experience as a reconnection with their roots, fostering pride, belonging, and appreciation for traditions. In a community where clay craftsmanship has long been a defining practice, the workshop reaffirmed its role as both cultural expression and spiritual connection.
Latina Republic celebrates the vibrant cultures, stories, and traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Through in-depth reporting, immersive features, and compelling storytelling, we highlight the communities, artists, and heritage that shape the region’s identity. From ancestral practices to contemporary innovations, Latina Republic is dedicated to preserving and sharing the richness of Latin American and Caribbean life with a global audience.
