You'll get a kick out of our handmade Tic-Tac-Toe game, hand-crafted by the artisans in Guatemala of De La Selva. A fun board game to pass quality time. A set of 8 cute animal figurines and a hand-painted board. Makes for an excellent activity on travels and picnics.
Toad: called Bab in Maya. This animal is related with the rituals of water and is considered the messenger of a goddess.
Turtle: The Mayas related this animal with water. For the Mayas, his shell symbolizes the circular shape of the earth, which was used as a musical instrument, and also to reproduce the sound of lightning proceeding the rain.
Bat: called Tzotz in Maya, this nocturnal animal is related with death, sacrifice, and forces of darkness.
Spider: The Mayas related this insect with lxchel: goddess of healthiness at birth, pregnancy, and fertility.
Serpent: called Caani in Maya. The deities of water and earth's fertility are believed to be related to this powerful animal.
Crocodile: In Mayan cosmology, a huge crocodile was holding the earth. The Mayas believed him to be a source of great power.
To the ancient Mayas of Guatemala, each animal represented a feeling, was related to a ritual, or was connected to the environment. Play Mayan Tic-Tac-Toe and learn about what the Mayans believed these animals represented.
- Three board designs available: Toad vs. Turtle, Bat vs. Spider, and Serpent vs Crocodile.
- Each Board Measures 3-1/2” x 3-1/2”, game pieces measure 1/4" - 3/4”.
Handmade in Guatemala and fair trade imported.
De La Selva Artisan Story
Guatemala “From The Mayan People To You” – De La Selva, located near La Antigua in San Juan del Obispo Guatemala, is a producer and global exporter of high-quality Mayan and Guatemalan handicrafts. The organization began its journey as an exporter of Guatemalan handicrafts in 1991 and after 19 years of hard work, team support, and market development, the company has evolved to approximately 35 staff members who work from the main office situated in San Juan del Obispo.
De La Selva works with artisans from all over this diverse country; each artisan is known for making a specific handicraft. Some of their popular product lines include the Mayan worry dolls, crochet stress balls, glass beaded jewelry, woven friendship bracelets, and miniature ceramics.
Apart from being a successful craft exporter, De La Selva plays other important roles in the lives of these artisans and their communities. Most importantly, the organization provides a market to artisans for their crafts which helps to supplement the income they receive from farming. De La Selva also partners with donors and developmental agencies from all over the world to make a difference in the socio-economic status of it’s producer artisans. Through various efforts, De La Selva has been able to achieve commendable results in providing basic infrastructure for far flung communities in Guatemala where their artisans reside including: local school facilities, cleaner drinking water, waste management, and other services. The journey does not end here and there are many more parallel developmental projects that the organization is working around. The De La Selva team along with it’s many supporters dream of making these indigenous communities self-sufficient so that they and their families are able to lead a better life.
