Why is the quetzal so important to Guatemala?
It is the national bird of Guatemala, and its image is found on the country’s flag and coat of arms. It also lends its name to the country’s currency, the Guatemalan quetzal. The resplendent quetzal was considered divine, associated with the “snake god”, Quetzalcoatl by Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations.
What kind of bird is the quetzal?
quetzal, (genus Pharomachrus), any of five species of colourful birds belonging to the genus Pharomachrus of the trogon family (Trogonidae).
Is the quetzal sacred?
The Resplendent Quetzal was a sacred bird in both Aztec and Mayan cultures, where priests and royalty wore quetzal feathers during ceremonial events. It is culturally associated with the “snake god,” Quetzalcoatl. In Mayan culture, it was forbidden to kill a quetzal.
What birds did Mayans worship?
Such admirers continue a long history of adoration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies.
Is the quetzal a bird of paradise?
Bird of paradise (quetzal) (one of a pair) 1733 Porcelain birds have their origins in the princely tradition of maintaining collections of living animals and birds in menageries and aviaries, which were viewed as microcosms of the universe, and emblems of royal power and enlightenment.
What bird is on the Guatemala flag?
the quetzal
The Guatemalan coat of arms also was strikingly different; it featured as its principal symbol the national bird, the quetzal, although the scroll on which the quetzal rested contained the date of Central American independence, September 15, 1821.
What is the national animal of Guatemala?
Resplendent quetzals
Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the “quetzal.”
What bird is sacred to the Aztecs?
the Resplendent Quetzal Pharomacrus
For centuries the Resplendent Quetzal Pharomacrus mocinno dominated the traditions and beliefs of the Maya and Aztec Indians of Central America. Quetzalcoatl, the cultural force for good for both Mayas and Aztecs, was symbolised by the head of a serpent adorned with the feathers of a Resplendent Quetzal.
What bird is in the Guatemala flag?
The Resplendent Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal is also the national bird of Guatemala, pictured on the country’s flag and coat of arms.
What does Guatemala flag say?
At the center of the flag is Guatemala’s coat of arms. Inscribed are the words Libertad 15 de Septiembre de 1821 which means Freedom September 15, 1821 the date in which Guatemala declared its independence from Spain.
What is Guatemala national flower?
White Nun Orchid
“La Monja Blanca” or the White Nun Orchid is the national flower of Guatemala.
What is symbolic to Guatemala?
The Guatemalan Symbol of Freedom: The Resplendent Quetzal. Worshipped by Mayas and Aztecs, the Quetzal is the symbol of Guatemala. This symbolism is not accidental: the local tradition considers it a symbol of freedom because it was believed that it preferred to die of hunger rather than to live as a prisoner.