Tzotzil and tzeltal ethnicities

The Tzotzil called themselves batsiI winik’otik, “real men” and Tzeltal refer to themselves as Winik atel, “working men”, both speak batsil k’op, or tongue real or legitimate. The word derives from sots’il winik Tzotzil, which means “Batman.” It is said that the ancestors of the Zinacanteco found a bat at the shore and took him by God.

The Tzotzil and Tzeltal conceive the world as a whole and call heaven and earth (vinajel-balamil). All life takes place on the surface of heaven and earth, while for the extraordinary life, like dreams, there is “another heaven and earth”. Healers are the only ones […]