The Legend of Quetzal
as told by Joshua Hodge
A long time ago in what is now the country of Guatemala, there lived a tribe
of Indians called the Quiche. At one time they had a powerful leader, Cacique.
He and his wife wanted to have a child, but they couldn't. It made them very
sad. Everyone in the tribe agreed that if they ever had a child, he would grow
to be a very strong and powerful leader.
Many years passed before Cacique and his wife were able to have a son. They
were very thankful. He was a healthy and handsome baby, and so they gave him the
name Quetzal, which means beautiful.
When Quetzal became old enough to be a Quiche warrior there was a
celebration with tambores, flautas, and marimbas. During this
celebration, the wise sage of the Quiches came forward to proclaim the destiny
of Quetzal. "Your destiny has been decided, Quetzal. You will live forever among
the Quiche Indians." He gave Quetzal a special necklace with a feather on it,
and told him to always wear it.
All of the people in the tribe were confused. How can someone live
forever? they thought. Even though they did not understand, there was a
great celebration with much enthusiasm. Everyone participated except one
warrior, Chiruma, the evil younger brother of the chief, Cacique. Chiruma was
very jealous. He had hoped that Cacique and his wife would never have a son, so
that he could become the next leader. Now that his brother had a son, Chiruma
knew it would be very unlikely that he would become chief. The only way it would
happen is if he could get rid of his nephew, Quetzal.
After the celebration, all the warriors had to go to battle. They took with
them their bows and arrows and fought the best they could, but many of the
Quiche warriors fell down and never got up. Chiruma noticed that although there
were many arrows in the air, they always went around his nephew. It was as if
something magical was protecting him. "It must be that feather necklace the sage
gave him. I must have it!"
Late one night, when Quetzal was deep asleep, Chiruma snuck into Quetzal's
bedroom and stole the necklace. "Now there will be nothing to protect Quetzal.
He will not live forever and I shall become the next leader."
The following day, when Quetzal was out walking in the forest, Chiruma came
up with a very evil idea. He hid behind a tree, and when Quetzal passed by, he
shot an arrow. It hit Quetzal in the pecho, and he fell down.
"This is the end of Quetzal" thought Chiruma "Now I shall have all the
power."
Just when Chiruma thought it was all settled, Quetzal suddenly arose from
the ground as a bird-- a beautiful, magnificent bird, with feathers on his
espalda, verde like the color of the grass and feathers on his pecho,
rojo like the color of his wounds. Chiruma had never seen a bird like this
before. He couldn't believe his ojos. How could this happen?
The evil jealousy of Chiruma could never overpower the destiny of Quetzal.
Quetzal would live forever. To this very day, the Quetzal bird exists in
Guatemala. It is their national symbol. They have named their money after it,
and it is even on their flag. It is a symbol of power for the country. It
symbolizes, that just as the evil Chiruma could not destroy Quetzal, so too
their country will never be destroyed.
The End
as told by Joshua Hodge
A long time ago in what is now the country of Guatemala, there lived a tribe
of Indians called the Quiche. At one time they had a powerful leader, Cacique.
He and his wife wanted to have a child, but they couldn't. It made them very
sad. Everyone in the tribe agreed that if they ever had a child, he would grow
to be a very strong and powerful leader.
Many years passed before Cacique and his wife were able to have a son. They
were very thankful. He was a healthy and handsome baby, and so they gave him the
name Quetzal, which means beautiful.
When Quetzal became old enough to be a Quiche warrior there was a
celebration with tambores, flautas, and marimbas. During this
celebration, the wise sage of the Quiches came forward to proclaim the destiny
of Quetzal. "Your destiny has been decided, Quetzal. You will live forever among
the Quiche Indians." He gave Quetzal a special necklace with a feather on it,
and told him to always wear it.
All of the people in the tribe were confused. How can someone live
forever? they thought. Even though they did not understand, there was a
great celebration with much enthusiasm. Everyone participated except one
warrior, Chiruma, the evil younger brother of the chief, Cacique. Chiruma was
very jealous. He had hoped that Cacique and his wife would never have a son, so
that he could become the next leader. Now that his brother had a son, Chiruma
knew it would be very unlikely that he would become chief. The only way it would
happen is if he could get rid of his nephew, Quetzal.
After the celebration, all the warriors had to go to battle. They took with
them their bows and arrows and fought the best they could, but many of the
Quiche warriors fell down and never got up. Chiruma noticed that although there
were many arrows in the air, they always went around his nephew. It was as if
something magical was protecting him. "It must be that feather necklace the sage
gave him. I must have it!"
Late one night, when Quetzal was deep asleep, Chiruma snuck into Quetzal's
bedroom and stole the necklace. "Now there will be nothing to protect Quetzal.
He will not live forever and I shall become the next leader."
The following day, when Quetzal was out walking in the forest, Chiruma came
up with a very evil idea. He hid behind a tree, and when Quetzal passed by, he
shot an arrow. It hit Quetzal in the pecho, and he fell down.
"This is the end of Quetzal" thought Chiruma "Now I shall have all the
power."
Just when Chiruma thought it was all settled, Quetzal suddenly arose from
the ground as a bird-- a beautiful, magnificent bird, with feathers on his
espalda, verde like the color of the grass and feathers on his pecho,
rojo like the color of his wounds. Chiruma had never seen a bird like this
before. He couldn't believe his ojos. How could this happen?
The evil jealousy of Chiruma could never overpower the destiny of Quetzal.
Quetzal would live forever. To this very day, the Quetzal bird exists in
Guatemala. It is their national symbol. They have named their money after it,
and it is even on their flag. It is a symbol of power for the country. It
symbolizes, that just as the evil Chiruma could not destroy Quetzal, so too
their country will never be destroyed.
The End