Ceremonial cloth

Unknown artist

The cloth (sut or tzute in Spanish) is woven with cotton in a hip loom. The cloth is embroidered with cotton. With embroidery, extra threads are added after weaving, when the fabric is finished. Further, the cloth consists of two woven pieces of textile which have been sewn together by hand.A cloth is a garment which can be used for various purposes: it can serve to cover the head, shoulders and arms during ceremonial ceremonies or as protection from the sun; to carry children or groceries; to hold sacred objects and images of saints, store bread, and set tables during ceremonial occasions. This garment can be worn by both women and men. This particular cloth is intended for ceremonial use, and it is not known whether it was used by women or men. The background color of the cloth is light blue. All over the cloth there are a variety of figures embroidered in different colors. The figures mainly represent birds, lions and floral motifs which are repeated at the edge of the cloth. \Chichicastenango is a subdivision of the El Quiché department. It is a Quiché village located at 2,103m above sea level. It has a tropical climate. According to a 2007 population census, in that year there were 258,314 inhabitants (130,118 non Maya and 128,196 Maya). The Maya of the municipality of Chichicastenango speak the Eastern Quiche. That Maya language belongs to the Quiche-Achi subfamily of the Maya language familyChichicastenango is very well known for its market. It is not an industrial center, but it is a trading center. It is also, one of the most important markets in the highlands. Chichicastenango produces raw materials, particularly foodstuffs. The name of Chichicastenango comes from a Nahuatl word, Tzitzicastli. It means "on the course of nettles or in the walled place by nettles".