On the twenty-first of every month in 2012, guests and staff at The Royal Haciendas are paying homage to the Mayan culture by participating in special events which help understand more about the incredible accomplishments of this ancient people in art, architecture, astronomy, science and the measurement of time. The date selected is a reference to December 21, 2012, the day that one b’aktun or cycle in the ancient calendar draws to a close and a new era begins.
Today’s event pays tribute to Mayan art with a Painting your own Mayan Calendar activity at 11 a.m. and Painting Mayan Ceramics at noon, both on the terrace in Phase I. There is a charge for the Mayan Ceramics craft workshop and all proceeds go to the Royal Resorts Foundation to support cancer awareness, scholarships for children from low-income households, conservation of the Mayan jungle and the employee relief fund which offers aid in times of serious illness.
At 1:30 p.m., guests and their children will join gardeners and help them plant a tree in Phase II of the resort as a symbolic gesture, March 21 is also World Reforestation Day. The fig tree Ficus benjamina will offer welcome shade in the years to come.
The event draws to a close on the beach at 6 p.m. with a bonfire ceremony (synthetic fire is used in order to protect the environment). Guests and staff are asked to spend a moment in reflection seeking harmony with nature in such a beautiful setting, and then write down their thoughts and prayers for the future, placing them in a chest.
Other activities scheduled to take place on the twenty-first of the month throughout the year include an exhibition of Mayan art in April, a Mayan market in May and a Mayan treasure hunt in June. Additional events will be announced.
