Page 14 - IAV Digital Magazine #565

Mexican President Posts Photo of What He Claims Is An Elf
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president posted a photo on his social media accounts Saturday showing what he said appeared to be a mythological woodland spirit
similar to an elf.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not seem to be joking when he posted the photo of an “Aluxe,” a mis- chievous wood- land spirit in
Mayan folklore.
López Obrador wrote the photo “was taken three days ago by an engineer, it appears to be an aluxe,” adding “everything is mystical.”
The nighttime photo shows a tree with a branch forming what looks like a halo of hair, and what may be stars forming the fig- ure’s eyes.
López Obrador has long expressed rever- ence for indige- nous cultures and beliefs. Engineers and workers are in the Yucatan peninsula, con- structing a tourist train that is the president’s pet project.
According to tra- ditional Mayan belief, “Aluxes” are small, mis- chievous crea- tures that inhabit forests and fields and are prone to playing tricks on people, like hiding things. Some people leave small offerings to appease them.
The ancient
Mayan civilization reached its height from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D. on the Yucatan Peninsula and in adjacent parts of Central America, but the Mayas’ descendants con- tinue to live on the peninsula.
Many continue speaking the Mayan language and wearing tradi- tional clothing, while also con- serving traditional foods, crops, reli- gion and medi- cine practices, despite the con- quest of the region by the Spanish between 1527 and 1546.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine