Lesson plan
Joyabaj
Joyabaj ( ) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is located about 50 kilometers from Santa Cruz del Quiché, in the Sierra de Chuacús mountains. Joyabaj was an important part of the royal route to Mexico during the Spanish time. On February 4, 1976, the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake. Most of its beautiful colonial houses and buildings were lost and hundreds of people died. Joyabaj was also hit hard by the civil war that lasted about 30 years in Guatemala. The majority of the ladinos (people with mixed Spanish and Indian heritage) fled to Guatemala City. The town's fiesta is celebrated from August 8–15. Many activities take place every day. One of the most important and fantastic celebrations is El Palo Volador. This is a traditional dance in which flying angels (ángeles) spin to the ground from a huge wooden pole. The Palo Volador reenacts the descend of the angels into the underworld to battle the forces of darkness. This a pre-conquest ritual that has survived many centuries. The people from Joyabaj are called Xoyes or Joyabatecos.
Article summary
Joyabaj ( ) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is located about 50 kilometers from Santa Cruz del Quiché, in the Sierra de Chuacús mountains. Joyabaj was an important part of the royal route to Mexico during the Spanish time. On February 4, 1976, the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake. Most of its beautiful colonial houses and buildings were lost and hundreds of people died. Joyabaj was also hit hard by the civil war that lasted about 30 years in Guatemala. The majority of the ladinos (people with mixed Spanish and Indian heritage) fled to Guatemala City. The town's fiesta is celebrated from August 8–15. Many activities take place every day. One of the most important and fantastic celebrations is El Palo Volador. This is a traditional dance in which flying angels (ángeles) spin to the ground from a huge wooden pole. The Palo Volador reenacts the descend of the angels into the underworld to battle the forces of darkness. This a pre-conquest ritual that has survived many centuries. The people from Joyabaj are called Xoyes or Joyabatecos.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.