Resumen

GABRIEL, Marianne. El uso ritual de alcohol, tabaco, cacao e incienso en las ceremonias agrarias de los mayas yucatecos contemporáneos. Estud. cult. maya [online]. 2007, vol.29, pp.155-184. ISSN 0185-2574.

The use of alcohol, tobacco and cacao in the agrarian rituals performed by the contemporary yucatec maya is ambiguous: they form part of the offerings and constitute elements against malicious forces according to the context of their use. Alcohol (both the ceremonial vine balche' and other cheap alcoholic drinks), tobacco and cacao are offerings in ceremonies of thanksgiving, petition and protection. The ceremonial wine also is used for consagration. But in the rituals of purification performed during the different ceremonies, obtains the power of antidote ("contras"), like the other elements presented here, to take away "evil winds" (k'ak'as íik'-o'ob) and other dangers.