Chuj (bathhouse)

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A chuj is a traditional Mayan bathhouse. It is a sweat bath or steam bath. Traditional chuj had stone walls and live sod roofs. Today, some chuj are made out of adobe bricks or cinder blocks instead. [1] [2]

Each family would build their own chuj near their house. A chuj has no windows. Inside, the bathers heat rocks until they are hot. Then they throw water onto the rocks to make steam. The bathers lie down on wooden beds. Users believe that the chuj cleans the body, spirit, and mind. [2]

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The Chuj or Chuh are a Maya people, whose homeland is in Guatemala and Mexico. Population estimates vary between 30,000 and over 60,000. Their indigenous language is also called Chuj and belongs to the Q'anjobalan branch of Mayan languages. Most Chuj live in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango, in the municipalities of San Mateo Ixtatán and San Sebastián Coatán, with small numbers also residing in the neighboring border areas of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Los Angeles is believed to have a relatively large population of undocumented Chuj immigrants.

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References

  1. Matthew K. Steinberg; Michael Taylor (August 2008). "Guatemala's Altos de Chiantla: Changes on the High Frontier". Mountain Research and Development (Full text). 28 (3): 255–262. doi: 10.1659/mrd.0891 . S2CID   130796411 . Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Trina Moyles. "A Ritual Cleansing in Guatemala". Verge. Retrieved July 28, 2022.