What’s the difference between kids of today and those who lived over 1500 years ago? Not as much as you think, especially when it comes to Mayan youth. Kids of Mayan culture—an ancient tribe of people who lived where Mexico, Belize and Guatemala are today—chewed gum, learned the three Rs and even went to ball games. Though, that’s not to say those similarities don’t come with a few differences. Let’s check them out.
First of all, just like now, parents pushed their kids to take care of their pearly whites. Of course, Mayans didn’t have dentists or electric toothbrushes, but they always kept chewing gum handy. This gum, known locally as chicle, was resin extracted from the zapote tree that helped clean teeth when chewed. Attention to teeth was even high for those higher up on the social ladder. Mayan Kings put jade in their incisors for the ultimate in tooth accessories—as well as for good luck. In fact, because jade was a symbol of decadence, luck and fertility, historians believe that the Mayans offered jade to the gods in times of drought. An abundance of jade has been discovered in cenotes (underground caverns where Mayans went to collect water) such as the magnificent Cenote Ik-Kil just outside Chichén Itzá.
The Mayans maintained other good habits, too—like reading, writing and arithmetic. They told stories by writing hieroglyphics in books made from tree bark, painting pictures onto walls and carving images into stone. It’s common to see hieroglyphics on most Mayan buildings in Mexico. The writing at the top of the Pyramid of the Magician, the tallest pyramid in Uxmal, is particularly ornate. You’ll see elaborate lattice work alongside carvings of serpents and masks of the rain god, Chac. What’s even more impressive is Mayan math skills. They developed a counting system so advanced that they calculated the lunar cycle and created a calendar system more precise than the one we have now. You can see the Mayan calendar for yourself at El Castillo in Chichén Itzá. This four-sided pyramid made from 365 steps (the number of days in the year) also works as a sundial. When the sun lands on a corner of the pyramid, it means that it’s either spring or fall equinox.
It wasn’t all work and no play for the Mayans. They often played ball games known as Pok-a-Toc. Pok-a-Toc was played by two teams who battled to sink a ball into a small hoop a massive 27 feet off the ground. The even bigger challenge? Players weren’t allowed to touch the ball with their hands and feet (talk about tricky). The game often lasted hours on end and the penalty for losing…was death. You’ll find a friendly reminder of this if you visit the ball court just outside the town of Valladolid, where smack bang in the middle is a carving of a skull.
The next time you find yourself complaining about a 21st century teenager, remember that times haven’t changed everything. If you head to Mexico today, you’ll still find Mayan communities alive and well. And in Valladolid you can meet modern Mayans who still dress in traditional Mayan clothing. What a great opportunity to check in with a 21st century Mayan teen. You group could even compare notes.