XITACCI AND THE RAIN GOD, CHAC

8 – 12 years old and older

Xitacci, (pronounced: she-tac-ci) was a Mayan princess. She lived in the beautiful highlands of Guatemala. Her mother was Queen Itzel and her father was King Abor. She was born to the True People as the Maya called themselves.

When King Abor, the Priests, and other High Officials saw the child, they decided that she would someday become the royal wife of the Rain God, Chac. Chac was also the God of Lightening.

Everyday as Queen Itzel looked at the baby she sang a little tune:

Up with you
Down with you
Up and down with you

Little feet up and how they shine
Little arms up and up they climb
Once up
Once down
Once all around

One arm forward gently thru the air
One arm backwards and hold it there
Foot after foot kick and flutter
On your belly and do not struggle.
Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!

“Mother, why do we play this game everyday when there are no servants in the room?”

“You will someday understand, my child,” Queen Itzel answered. “You must never go near great pools of water.”

“All right, my lovely mama,” Xitacci teased, and then ran out to play.

“Mama, I will be sixteen soon, what will I do then?

“You will gain great honor and respect; it will be a hard thing to do. You must be brave.”

“Why must I be brave?” Xitacci asked. “Also, why are you so sad when you speak of this honor that I am going enjoy.”

“Tell me, mama, please, tell me. I promise I will still be excited when the time is here!”
Xitacci urged.

“My little one, just as the Law and the Priests keep you from going to the river to bathe or to the Pool of Chechen, This Law keeps me from telling you about your greatest honor. Look! Here comes your father and the High Priest now. Go to them.”

She happily ran to them and they took her to an interior room within the palace. There, they explained that she would become bride of Chac at beginning of the rainy season.

“I do not want to become the bride of the Rain God, Chac! Father, how could you do this to me?”

“Child, if you do not do this thing willingly and joyfully. We will have no rain for our crops, and our animals will die. The Maya will cease if Chac does not receive his new bride. She must make him happy because she is honored to be his wife.” King Abor tried to explain.

“But father, the last princess was thrown into the pool at Chechen and was never seen again. What happened to her?”

The High Priest exclaimed: “She now sits with all the other princesses in the Court of Chac. Many would gladly give up their life with us to be with our strong, and kind Chac. It is a place most honored! Most glorious! ”

“You can say that, because you are the High Priest!” Xitacci screamed. Her father looked sad. She knew, though, that this was her destiny. “I will do it for you,” father, she said quietly.

Her marriage to the Rain God Chac was a big day.
It was not raining.
There was music, and history, and talk to honor her and the Rain God. She was a regal and stunning bride. When the ceremony was near its end, the Priest said a long prayer. Then she was taken to the middle of the Pool of Chechen and gently slipped into the deep water.

There, her husband, the Rain God, would welcome her.

As soon as her feet touched the water, she remembered the little song her mother sang to her. I should not be singing and dancing; I should be afraid, she thought as she
lifted her arms and moved her feet through the water. She breathed in just the right way as her mother had taught her to do. At that moment Xitacci understood what her mother had taught her. She was swimming. Xitachi understood that she had to stay in that spot until the Rain God came to claim her as his bride, so she began to tread water to save her strenght. She was tired, but she continued from morning until mid-sun on into late afternoon.

As the sun began to set, the whole village came to see if Chac had accepted his new bride. The High Priest ordered the men to rescue her. As she was wrapped her in warm royal robes, he commanded:

“Xitacci has joyously and unselfishly consented to be the new bride of Chac. However, the sun has set and we know that this means that he is still satisfied with his last wife. Therefore, let her be restored to her parents, King Abor and Queen Itzel! See, the rain! Chac is happy!”

After that all the royal women of the Mayan Court whispered the story of Xitacci and the Rain God, Chac, to each new mother. To this day, Chac is still satisfied with his last wife.


by ecfleming12

Author's Comments:
"I read about the Maya culture in the Awake magazine. After further research, I was inspired to write this children's story. Its aim was to save the princess and break up this tradition. As a writer, I succeeded. Of course, it is only a story. The Maya still have their history in tact; but I have a very satisfying intervention to muse. I would like to work with an Illustrator and make this a children's book."