The Maya Legend of the Deer, the Pheasant and the Snake

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A long, but long time ago, Mr. Itzamná decided to create a land that was so beautiful that anyone who knew it wanted to live there, in love with its beauty. Then he created El Mayab, the land of the elect, and planted in it the most beautiful flowers that adorned the roads, created enormous cenotes whose crystalline waters reflected the light of the sun and also deep caverns full of mystery. Itzamná then gave the new land to the Maya and chose three animals to live forever in El Mayab and whoever thought of them would remember it immediately. Those chosen by Itzamná were the pheasant, the deer and the rattlesnake. The Maya lived happily and were in charge of building palaces and stone cities. Meanwhile, the animals that chose Itzamná did not tire of walking El Mayab. The pheasant flew to the tallest trees and their cry was so powerful that all the inhabitants of that land could hear. The deer ran as light as the wind and the snake moved its bells to produce music in its wake.

Such was the life in El Mayab, until one day, the chilam, or the Mayan soothsayers, saw in the future something that caused them great sadness. Then they called all the inhabitants to announce the following: "We have to give news that will cause them great pain. We will soon be invaded by men from afar; They will bring arms and fight against us to take away our land. We may not be able to defend The Mayab and we will lose him.

On hearing the words of the Chilam, the pheasant immediately fled into the jungle and hid among the grasses, preferring to stop flying so that the invaders could not find it.

When the deer knew that he would lose his land, he felt a great sadness; Then she cried so much, that her tears formed many gullies. From that moment on, the deer's eyes remained very wet, as if he were always sad.

Undoubtedly, the most angry at the knowledge of the conquest was the rattlesnake; She decided to forget her music and fight with the enemies; So he created a new sound that he produces by moving the tail and now uses it before attacking.

As the Chilam said, the foreigners conquered El Mayab. But even so, a famous Mayan fortune teller announced that the three animals chosen by Itzamná will carry out an important mission in their land. The Maya still remember the words he once said:

"As long as the Ceibas are up and the caves of El Mayab are open, there will be hope." The day will come when we will recover our land, then the Mayas must meet and fight. They will know that the date has arrived when they receive three signals. The first will be the pheasant, which will fly over the tallest trees and its shadow can be seen throughout the Mayab. The second sign will be brought by the deer, for it will cross this land in a single jump. The third messenger will be the rattlesnake, which will produce music again and it will be heard everywhere. With these three signs, the animals will warn the Mayans that it is time to recover the land they took away from them.

That was the diviner's announcement, but the day has not yet come. Meanwhile, the three animals prepare to be ready. Thus, the pheasant smoothes its wings, the deer sharpens its hooves and the snake rubs its jingle bells. They just wait for the moment to be the messengers who gather the Maya to recover the Mayab.