Chocolate Was At The Center Of Mayan Religious Identity
Mayans believed that long ago, the gods brought cacao beans, corn, and other foods down from the Mountain of Sustenance. As the story goes, the gods mixed their blood with the cacao beans. So the blood of the gods became permanently entwined with cacao. The god of corn was born from a cacao plant. Cacao, corn, and many other foods brought by the gods down from the mountain were fashioned to create the first humans. Chocolate was therefore part of the very essence of both humanity and the gods. It was used to lighten the mood of someone being sacrificed, and in every important occasion. Chocolate was a requirement for a marriage ceremony, since it was believed to be linked to fertility. It was also believed to have medical properties. Cocoa beans were mixed with other plants to treat fever, and the cacao flowers were used to treat fatigue.