Maya pilgrimage
Introduction


Pilgrimage is the travel from one's home to a sacred place of importance within one's faith. The journey itself holds a spiritual significance for the traveler because by participating in this ritual, they renew their faith and/or try to bring about a practical result. In the [Maya](/wiki/Maya_civilization "Maya civilization") faith, the believers may make a pilgrimage at any time of the year and to multiple places. Pilgrimages create networks that connect people and places over long distances, so as to transcend the limits of the local community as well as time. **Maya pilgrimage** displays many specific attributes unique to their culture even though they have been heavily influenced by the [Catholic](/wiki/Catholicism "Catholicism") faith since the 15th century. In spite of that, they continue to make their pilgrimage to local shrine sites which are distinctly Maya. These ancient sites are used to communicate to deities or spirits and may be used to appeal to them for help. Though the images on these shrines may now represent [Christian saints](/wiki/Christian_Saint "Christian Saint"), aspects of the ancient Maya tradition still exists. The following will describe the fundamentals and purpose of Maya pilgrimage as well as the influence [Christianity](/wiki/Christianity "Christianity") had on it.


How does participation in this ritual renew one's faith?