Saint Maximón (also called San Simón) is a very interesting Mayan folk saint who, unlike other saints, is known as a mischievous spirit who smokes cigars and drinks alcohol. In communities where Maximón is venerated, he is represented by an effigy which resides in a different house each year. He is most visible during the annual holy week when he is brought outside and moves to a new house. During the rest of the year, people of the communities visit Maximón in his chosen residence. There his shrine is always attended by two or more people, called Cofrades, who "host" Maximón for the full year while keeping the altar and sacred items in order (and also drinking and smoking in Maximón's company). Shamans come daily to do rituals on behalf of their clients.
Worshippers offer money, spirits and cigars or cigarettes, candles, incense, and prayers to gain his favor in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling, amongst other favors. It is said he makes people’s dreams come true. He challenges believers. He heals. He helps overcome obstacles. He stands against injustice. He dances the night away. He brings wealth and success. Fertility and prosperity. He wins the heart of women and protects from infidelity. In fact, he is the lord of sexuality standing for all unresolved matters of a moral nature. In some places, upon his effigy is a mouth formed to allow the attendants to give him spirits to drink. These offerings are a way of "feeding," giving life, and gratitude to Maximón.
Several legends surround Maximón. One says that the village fishermen traveled frequently to trade, and enlisted Maximón to protect the virtue of the wives they left behind. Instead, the mischievous Maximón is said to have disguised himself as loved ones so he could have sex with the women indiscriminately. When the fishermen returned and discovered what he had done, they were furious. They broke his arms and legs (some versions say they cut his arms and legs off). After this, Maximón became helpful and fulfilled his duties properly. Thus, he is equal part deity and trickster, both a friend and a fiend.
In Santiago Atitlán, a similar tale says that Maximón was not a man, but a wooden figure created by Shamans to defend the village from evil. However, Maximón was mischievous and brought chaos to the people of the village, and did nothing to protect the village from evil. The Shamans twisted his head around and broke his legs to stop him. He then did his job properly and protected the people of the town, and blessed them. Today in Santiago Atitlán, whenever Maximón's clothing is washed, the water is saved and distributed as holy water to local shop keepers and others in the community, who consume or sprinkle this water in their shop doorways, to ask the blessing of good business.
In another legend, Maximón was an elder who reincarnated to protect his people. During the Spanish Conquest, an elder named Ri Laj Mam, upset by the evils of the Spaniards, encouraged his people to start a rebellion. He was eventually executed, but returned to life in the form of a judge named Don Ximon, who fought to give land back to the native people of Guatemala.
As many Guatemalans have migrated to areas such as Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the veneration of Maximón has traveled beyond the borders of Guatemala, where he is more commonly known as San Simón. There are temples dedicated to him in New York, California, and Florida.
