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nAndna frost at the wrong time of the year could kill the entire garden.nIt could take out an entire field of corn.
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nFornthe Cuchumatan Indians of Guatemala, the very real possibility ofnlosing a crop to frost inspired a ceremony that was meant to protectnthe crops—and therefore their lives.
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nThenSealing the Frost Ceremony begins as the prayer makers lead thenvillagers up to a cliff where the frost is said to live. One of thenprayer makers dares to do a risky job: he is lowered over the cliffnedge by a rope tied around his waist. When he sees a crack in thenrock, he fills the crack with cement. This is supposed to seal frostnin so that it cannot come and kill the young corn plants.
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nThennthe daring prayer maker is hauled up again, and he leads thenprocession back down to the village. n
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nLearnnabout Guatemala
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nIfnyou ever travel to Guatemala, you might climb a volcano, shop forncolorful handicrafts, and visit Mayan ruins.
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- National Geographic Kids offers anslideshow about Guatemala.
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nHere is a short video capturing somenlava flowing from one of Guatemala’s volcanos.
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- Growing Up Bilingual features severalnclever crafts inspired by Guatemalan handicrafts.
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nAnd here is a website thatntells the legend of the Mayan Trouble Dolls.
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- Explorenthe ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal with this wonderful video,nand maybe even this virtual tour.
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nChecknout this previous post about Guatemala.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBuddha Day
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nHana Matsuri, or Flower Festival, in Japan
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