Tulum’s Maya Families Face Uncertain Harvests Amid Late Rains

As the Cancha Maya festival in Tulum approaches, Maya families are expressing concern over the delayed rains that have failed to support their crops. The 10-day festival runs from October 6 to 15, and the Matán offering will be held in 15 households. Cultural promoter Nicasio Canché attributed the poor harvest to climate change, which has pushed back the rains, leaving day laborers without their crops. The festival, which celebrates the milpa (a traditional maize, beans, and squash crop), takes place at the ceremonial heart of Tulum, known as the Chan Santa Cruz.

• There are 119 ejidatarios still practicing milpa in the Tulum area.
• The festival aims to give thanks and ask for good sowing and harvests, with the Matán offering carried out by the diputados.
• The rains have affected the traditional method of reading the cabañuelas, a prediction tool based on the first days of January, leading to inaccurate forecasts for the year ahead.

Despite the challenges, the festival remains a significant cultural event for Tulum's Maya communities, drawing visitors and supporting local artisans and businesses. However, for those who rely on the milpa for their livelihood, the late rains pose a real threat to the harvest.