Sacralization of Natural Heritage. Patrimonial Tree in the patronal Feast of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The Case of Uayma, Yucatán

Abstract

During the last 2019 patron saint festival in Uayma, a town in eastern Yucatán, it waspossible to document and observe, as part of my master's research, religious and cultural practices that survive to this day. Religious heritage is linked to natural heritage in a ritual ofpreparation for the beginning of the journey of the patron saint, santo Domingo de Guzmán. The patron saint is venerated during the early morning hours at the foot of a large ceiba tree, located at the beginning of the village. The village's ceiba tree is a patrimonial tree, that serves as the starting point for a ritual that transcends the limits of architectural elements and interweaves ethnic and religious behaviors in a territory of unique cultural practices. The annual festival dedicated to Saint Dominic involves the community of Uayma, as wellas residents of surrounding villages, such as Cuncunul, Tekom, Dzitnup, Kaua, Tixcacalcupul, San Lorenzo, and Ebtun, people arrive during these days of celebration as visitors on pilgrimage to accompany their patron saint. As tradition dictates, these visitors carry the image of the patron saint and, at dawn on August 3rd, they stand at the entranceto the town at the foot of the Ceiba tree, to accompany Saint Dominic de Guzmán. Throughout the night and until dawn, people light candles, pray to each of the saints, and some place money in small baskets at the feet of the images to ask for prayers andrequests. At dawn on August 3rd, as the sun rises, pilgrims and residents walk in procession to the former convent. This route is led by Saint Dominic de Guzmán, accompanied by the parish priest, followed by all the patron saints of the surrounding towns.The people accompany the procession with songs accompanied by musicians in a small orchestra band, and the townspeople sing different melodies. The procession weaves through the urban space of the town, passing through the entire village and ending at the foot of the church entrance, where the people wait in procession to enter Mass just as the sun rises. During this time of reflection, the tradition is kept alive by worshipping each year in a social-religious ceremony.