Feast of the goddess Ischel (08/12)

In southern Mexico, the festival of the ancient Mayan goddess Ishchel is currently celebrated with processions and rituals blessing fields and boats.

According to Mayan mythology, Ischel, or Ish-Chel, (meaning "lady rainbow") — is the goddess of fertility, medicine, weaving, childbearing, the wife of the supreme god Itsamna.

In some legends, Ischel is also known as the Lady of the Extraordinary Ambient Darkness, the Lady of the Bloody Spots, the Lady of the Night, the All-Encompassing Lady. She was mainly an object of worship for women. It was also called Ish-Kanleom (web that catches morning dew).

The cult of Ischel spread through southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, to El Salvador.

One of the major islands of Mexico is called Cozumel, it is located 20 kilometers from the Yucatan Peninsula. The island was a popular pilgrimage site in honor of the fertility goddess — Ishchel.

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