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History of the Pokomchi´ 
The Pokom occupation in Alta Verapaz happened in the postclassic period although probably it began previously. In century XVI the Pokomchi territory included, according to Miles (1983), from San Cristóbal Verapaz, near the Chixoy river, to Panzos in the Polochic river and from Chamá to the north to Santa Ana to the south.
Several documents exist with information on the Pokom population. One of them is KajKoj Gentlemen, probably written in the century XVI, that describes the conflicts between populations Pokomchies de KajKoj, Tururub and Taltique. The zones occupied by these groups agree with the present location of two dialects, western and Eastern. The document also talks about to the loss of territory to the Rabinaleb, as well as a story of the process of the pacific conquest on the part of the "Dominicos". Another document corresponds to the District of Santa Ana, San Cristóbal KajKoj, that dates from the 1565. It is written in Pokom as a group travel through the Chal territory and base themselves for a time in earth given by the people of Alcala. The final establishment in KajKoj was made after the conquest.
The archaeological sites Chuitinamit and Kaqyuuq were constructed by Pokom populations. Chuitinamit is believe for its size and importance to have been built by the Nim Pokom, and then captured by the Kíche. Kaqyuuq, located upon a mountain above of Rabinal, indicates that probably both populations had relations during the late postclassic period (1200 to 1524 dc).
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Pokomchi´ Social Structure
The Pokomchi´ group is located in the south of the department of Alta Verapaz and in the Eastern part of the department of Quiche' upto the western part of Estor, department of Izabal. Linguistically they belong to the Kiche´Mayor branch of protomaya Eastern group.
The members of each community in their majority profess catholic religion, having in their charge a saint. The celebrations are organised by people selected by the community, called mertooma and ajkamaj (butlers or cófrades). They are organized in ten pairs, where the women are in charge to change flowers of the hermitage and of the house of the first butler, call Poqom K´amalB´eeh, and the butlers provide the economic contribution for the celebration. There are two pairs that are the assistants, whose function is to contribute manual labor in the preparation. This organization is observed in the municipal heads Pokomchi´, especially during the celebrations of the patron saints. The main butlers of the villa participate in the masses of the celebrations maintaining the Naah B´aara (shield of brotherhood of pure silver), this being a symbol of prestige.
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Typical Dress
Of the Woman :: Of the Man :: Of the Child
Of the Woman
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Perraje
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Made of cotton or wool, the woman wears it on her head as a complement to the rest of her dress and as protection from the rain or sun.
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Ribbon
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Frequently used on days of celebration the women wear a wide, red ribbon or tupuy platted in their hair.
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Necklaces and Earrings
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Generally made of silver.
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Blouse or Huipil
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Called Po´t, it is hand woven and worn ontop of another article of cotton clothing called camisa.
The cloth used is 14" wide and each piece is a third of the blouse. Two are used for the sleeves and one for the centre with a whole for the neck. The women sometimes wear a type of blouse made of a croched lace material. Sometimes embroided on the blouse will be drawings of flowers, animals and abstract figures related to the Mayan Cosmovision, representing elements of their culture.
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Chord of the corte
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Hand woven from 4 colours.
The weave strips are used to tie the huipil around the waist of the woman.
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Corte o skirt
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It is a skirt called a Uhk with a dark blue bottom and above abundance of reds and greens made with woven fabric of a length of eight twigs. Some are reduced to six and others use up to 10 twigs to make the skirt denser. Next a strip of colorful cotton is wrapped very tightly around the waist to maintain the piece.
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Caites
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Small open sandles nowadays usually made of plastic.
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Of the Man
Consists of a pair of white trousers, a black jacket and a straw hat. For work the usual dress is trousers and a shirt of "dril". This form of dress has been all but lost from day to day life and can only be seen during special events. The actual dress is western with the only distinction being the bag and hat.
Of the Child
The dress is similar to that of the parents, however with some modifications. The skirt of the girls "se cose a la prenda que se usa debajo de la blusa" and the blouse is all one piece. The boys wear clothes similar to their farthers.
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Temascal y Massage
The temascal or tuj is a construction of "bajareque" or sun-dried brick of 1 metre wide and 2 metres long and 1.5 metres high. It is a room where a person can give themselves a steam bath. The environment is heated using fire and water so that the person can clean themsleves of illnesses and muscle pain. The steambath is very used especially in areas where water is scarse. In some areas of San Cristóbal it is normal to give a massage to the person when they leave the temascal. This is carried out with aromatic herbs and spices with healing properties. This technique is often used for pregnant women close to giving birth so that complications are avoided.
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Typical Food and Drink
Boj - Fermented Sugar Cane drink
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Ingredientes:
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Sugar cane, pimienta gorda y sugar.
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Instructions:
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The cane is ground and the juice mixed with pepper and sugar. The mixture is placed in a large earthenware jar and left for fifteen days so that it ferments.
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Pinol -
In the past, cocoa beans were used as currency. Nowadays the seeds are toasted, ground and then mixed with hot water and other ingredients to make a traditional drink of the area.
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Ingredients:
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5 lbs de cocoa, 10 lbs of yellow maize y 2 lbs de cinamon.
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Instructions:
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Sak-ic
Ingredients:
(7-8 people)
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Whole turkey, precooked maiz (for a large turkey use 5lbs.), 30 units of pepper, 2 lbs of tomato, 2 "sobrecitos" of saborin, ½ teaspoon of ground Chile and salt.
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Instructions:
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Cook the maiz without using lime along with the turkey. Remove the meat and add the saborin to the broth, with the ground and strained tomato, the ground pepper and the dough of maiz. When this begins to boil wait 10 minutes, without letting move. Cut the turkey and serve, normally with the meat in the broth.
This plate is accompanied by tamalitos. Also it is possible to be done with chicken.
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Sak-kiq
Ingredients:
(5 people)
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5 lbs. of turkey, 5 lbs. of tomato, 11 lbs. de onion, 2 large cloves de ajo, 4 ounces of "miltomate", 2 large chile peppers, coriander, "zamat".
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Instructions:
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Cook the turkey with the tomato, the onion, garlic, the coriander and "zamat". When the turkey is cooked strain it and put it to roast garlic, the onion, miltomate and the pepper. Liquidise all this and pour it in the broth. Spice to taste, you leave, eat with achote or Chile.
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A Mayan Ritual
As part of the Mayan Cosmovision there is a ceremony that is carried out 4-6 times each month. The objective is to ask for health, life and satisfaction. Each element used has a significance:
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Sugar
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Used to signify the sweetness that is life.
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Estoraque in the circumference
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It is an offering that has pleasant scent like rosemary or sesame. When burning these offerings the Gods decide if they accept the request.
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The Circumference
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Symbolizes the Universe.
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Octe
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When burning the fire protects the unvierse.
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Candels
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They symbolize the four cardinal points.
Red, where the sun rises.
Black, where the sun sets.
White, from where the wind comes.
Yellow, to where the wind goes, where the ancestors rest. The cemeteries always lie on the South side.
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Estoraque on the 4 cardinal points.
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It is used as a gift for the four architects, Gods or nahuales. They maintain the world.
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Tojil
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Give and recieve offerings.
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Jabilix
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It takes the register.
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Mijkataj
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Orders the life of each person.
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Ajakabitz
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Decides if the offering is accepted.
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Significado del color de las candelas
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Blue
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Heaven (Maya-Cosmovision)
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Black
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Death (Maya-Cosmovision), darkness, night
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Yellow
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Fertility (Maya-Cosmovision), Tranquility
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Red
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Dia, clarity, light (Maya-Cosmovision), blood
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Green
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Mother earth (cosmovisión Maya), hope, nature.
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White
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Wind (Maya-Cosmovision), purity, peace, sincerity.
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Sky blue
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Adolescence of men
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Pink
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Joy, adolescence of women
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Brown
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Death
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The Carpet of Eater Friday
During the period of Easter, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of San Cristóbal work together in the creation of a coloured carpet to mark to path of the procession of Semana Santa. San Cristóbal is known for making the longest carpet in the whole of Guatemala with a lenght of over 1km.
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Bombs
Consists of a tube of metal full of a substance similar to gunpowder, a fibre chord as a wick and surrounded in newspaper.
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Firework Dances and Games
C’oxol :: Little Bull :: Burning of xibalbah :: Castle :: Juego de Caña
The C’oxol
A folk dance carried out in San Cristóbal. The name dates from the ethnia Pokomam, who came from the west close to Quetzaltenango where there exists a ceremonial centre called Kak C´oxol which means the Red Guardian. In San Cristóbal this dance is carried out each year on the 20th January in the neighbourhood of San Sebastian during the festival of the area. Kak C´oxol is considered the Guardian of the neighbourhood and the inhabitants are the owners of the clothes in which they dance each year. Each neighbourhood has its dance that corresponds with its guardian. For example: Santa Ana; Sama K´ek, San Felipe; Torito y San Cristóbal; el Venado.
The Little Bull/torito
One of the most interesting tradiciones is the burning of the little bull (Torito), that combines different cultural traditions. Fireworks, origionally from China, where introduced to Guatemala by the Spanish and are used in the celebracion which also has Judeocristianas roots. However the significance of the celebration has been reinterprated by the Mayan population. It is a social occasion and reaffirmation of the Pokomchi´ identity between the communities of San Cristobal. The dance of the Torito dates from the 17th century.
The burning of xibalbah/devil
An impressive traditional fireworks dance of the Mayan-Pokomchi´culture. It represents the devil burning himself in the fires of hell. The dance takes place the 15 January each year in the neighbourhood of Esquipulas, the 20th January in San Sebastian and the 8th December, the day of the immaculate conception, infront of the parish church. The attire consists in a mask, red clothes and a big piece of wood with "alas" and rockets attached to it. The rockets ignite one after another while the devil dances.
Castillo
This firework piece can be as tall as 10 metres (33 feet) and is carried out infront of the Catholica church as part of the annual celebracion in honour of the Patron Saint and the guardians. On the wheels of the castle there are piles of thread that attach to the rockets. If everything is connected correctly the spectacle of the Castillo can be enjoyed for 15 - 20 minutes with a rocket exploding every few seconds.
Juego de Caña
This firework structure is made of sugar cane tied to each other in 4 piles, 2 to either side, connected to a rocket that once light produces a waterfall of colored fire, which culminates with a loud rocket explosion.
The Juego de Caña doesn't use "alas" as often as in the Burning of the Devil.
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Typical House
Even though Pokomchi' houses can be made of many different materials, those made of bamboo and mud are the most common, especially in the rural area. The construction materials include white clay, reeds, wooden stakes and pine leaves. The roof is constructed of leaves of sugar cane, pacaya and other materials called “ak” in Pokomchi´. A typical house has maiz hung from the patio or the inside of the house. These are used as the seeds for the next harvest of maiz.
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Incense
Derived from a tree called “Q´uikaj”,it is burnt in a receptical called “c´atbal pom”. It utilised to satisfy the protective spirits of the people and to avoid the evil spirits. Is is burnt in sacred caves, churches and in other places of worship, religious procession and funerals.
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Copal Pom
Made from a type of white resin, that produces a strong and pleasant aroma. The resin is extracted from the "Pom" tree that can be found in Lanquín, Alta Verapaz. It is an offering to the proctective spirits and it is burnt at sacred alters, catholic churches and during procession and funerals in order to please the good spirits and keep away the bad.
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Adorno
Called the "Xoy" (shoy) in Pokom. The flat, arched structure is covered with leaves of "una planta parasitaria específica", coloured paper and fruits. The piece is situated around the entrance to the chapel where they celebrate the festivities in honour of the Patron Saint. The "xoy" it can also be placed in the centre of the town adorned with fruits, maize or cured meat.
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Mayan Calendar
The Mayans utilise 3 types of calendar, all organised as heirarchy's of cycles of days of different duration. The long count, was for historical reasons the main calendar, The Haab was used as the civil calendar while the Tzolkin was the religious calendar. All the Mayan calendars are based on the serial counting of days without being synchronised to the sun or moon, however the Long Count and the Haab contain cycles of 360 and 365 days respectivaley, which is comparable to the solar system.
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Musica
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Caxlan Aj Sub
(Kena)
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Wind instrument constructed of a piece of reed. It is used to produce individual music or in a group together with other instruments.
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Harp
(Arpa)
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Musical instrument used in the region to brighten up ethnic coexistence.
It is played together with a mallet made fabric.
Normalmetne it is accompanied by a violin and a guitar of "tecomate".
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Sub
(chirimia)
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Native musical instrument used by catholic religious groups (butlers) on very special occasions.
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Yolin
(violin)
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Musical instrument constructed of fine wood and approximately 75 cms. in length.
It is accompanied by the Arpa to brighten up celebrations.
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Cortes O Caxac'oj
(Tambor)
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Percussion instrument, constructed of wood and skin of animal, specially the skin of the deer.
It is used when cofrades move from living in one house to another.
It is carried hung by a strip of skin or fabric from one arm, whilst a hand one makes the sound by means of a piece of cylindrical wood known by the name of baqueta.
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Rij Coc
(Concha de Tortuga)
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Empty tourouise shell.
Categoriza as a percussion instrument played with one or two cylindrical pieces of wood.
It is used especially in the celebracion of "posadas navideñas".
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Yolon
(Violon)
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Instrument that is played to accompany marimba working like a doublebass.
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Marimba
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An instrument to which the Guatemalans give the name of autócono. It is most popular instrument by Guatemalans. Its origin is widely discussed. Some attribute it to the continent of African, others to Indonesia. There is no data on the existence of marimba in America before the colony and the arrival of black people to the country during the 17th century, but they lived on the coastal lowlands of the Atlantico, whereas the marimbas real home was in the highlands.
Those Who attribute the marimbas origin to Africa, believe that the blacks constructed some marimbas similar to those used in their homelands which the indians copied and changed its form, adding resonance boxes made of pumpkins or tubes of bamboo. Performed intially by just one person but later in groups who perfected the art resulting in its popularity between all the Guatemalan social classes.
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Carraca
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It is a ritmica percussion instrument with an indefineable sound (in Guatemala it is known by its Portugue's name of Matraca). Normally made of wood or tin plate and consists of a small drum with teeth that when rotated by means of a small hand, que pasa frontando en el vibrar.
The "Tremolo" produced is proportional to the size of the carraca. In some towns it is used in Easter in substitution of the church bells, tradition that the Spanish left.
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