EL REY COLIBRI

THE HUMMINGBIRD KING

Many years ago, in one of the Mayan cities whose name has been forgotten, lived once a uinic Halak (head) and having no offspring, his younger brother, Chiruma, replace it someday. But at last the uinic Halak and his wife had one day a man who was born on the 13th of the month, a lucky day for the Maya According to them, the heavens were 13.

When the child was born was another sign, a beautiful hummingbird perched on the branch of a tree in front of the house uinic Halak, and not only was the most colorful hummingbird and largest they had ever seen, but no one remembered seeing a hummingbird still for so long. The priest said that it was a good omen and said: The gods sent a messenger to tell us that this child will be extraordinary, like the hummingbird.

A few days later was a special ceremony for naming the child and the priest gave the chief and his wife a bright red pen he had found under the branch where the hummingbird landed. The boy's mother then said Kukul is called, which means "beautiful feather". The priest then said: This pen will protect you as long as carry.

Everyone was happy at the ceremony, except Chiruma since the birth of this child, and he would not become uinic Halak.

Time passed, Kukul grew and became a handsome, intelligent, jet black hair and tan skin. He learned a lot with his father on the stars and also learned the art of war. The time came when they had to take his place Kukul all men and as a tribe fought against hers, and Chiruma Kukul went to war with everyone else. Not a spear or an arrow of many flying amounted to Kukul, and this fighting bravely.

Chiruma thought surely the gods were protecting Kukul. On one occasion when an arrow going directly to Chiruma, Kukul interposed as a shield between her aunt and arrow, and it fell to the ground without hurting anyone. The enemy fled aghast. Chiruma then decided to find out for Kukul thought it had some charm.

When that night he slept on his mat Kukul Chiruma searched everywhere until he found the long red feather and carried. Kukul When he awoke, he noticed that the pen was missing and could not even remember the words of the priest when he was born. Kukul did not know, but he had lost the amulet and therefore, all the protection that this gave him.

The uinic Halak went to the afterlife and priests gathered to elect a new leader. Chiruma tried to convince one of them to support him, but the others voted for Kukul, so uinic Halak was chosen. During the rule of the people were Kukul alone and was getting very good harvests thanks to Kukul, studying the stars, told everyone when to plant and when to pick. Everyone wanted Kukul much, except of course, Chiruma.

One day while hunting Kukul, there appeared an extraordinary hummingbird, bigger than any other and fluttering around Kukul spoke these words: I am your guardian, Kukul, and I have to warn you ... watch out because death goeth about you ... beware of a man ... of someone close to you. Beware Kukul, and dis appeared.

Kukul walked through the woods, in a moment he heard a whisper, readied his arrow but saw nothing. But after a few steps ... zzzz ... an arrow pierced his chest. Despite the pain, he managed to draw the arrow and went to the river to wash the wound. But forces began to fail and his chest blushed scarlet as blood. For now, all was darkness and fell in Kukul green as emerald grass where he died, alone and betrayed.

That's when something extraordinary happened, slowly turned his body color of the grass, except the chest, which was scarlet, her skin became feathers and hair in a beautiful crest. Chiruma left the thicket, and then Kukul arms and wings had become so all he saw was a green bird Chiruma Shining scarlet-chested and a huge tail flying upward.

The whole town mourned the loss of Kukul and days later elected as the new Halak Chiruma uinic, but as sovereign, was cruel and warlike. The enemies attacked the city and took prisoner Chiruma.

Today a beautiful green bird with scarlet breast, a huge tail and a splendid crest, sits in the topmost branches of the forest, looking around, listening to the rustle of leaves. The ancient Maya called this bird kukul, we know it as a symbol of freedom, the quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala.

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