A Lenca composure: an agrarian and life ritual

Abstract

The Lenca compostura is a ritual that represents the agricultural cycle of rural farmers. The objective of this research is to describe a Lenca compostura in the villages of Yamaranguila, Honduras. The method of direct observation was applied, meaning the researcher was present at the site where the ritual took place and recorded what occurred during the ceremony, using audio recorders, a camera, and a notebook to document and study the ritual and the behavior of the participants. Participant observation is a method from anthropology and ethnography that emerges from interaction during data collection and requires the observer’s involvement in the events. The data obtained were organized to narrate the ritual in stages, including the corresponding prayers, tools used, and roles of the participants. The results reveal that the compostura is a Mesoamerican ritual with Christian elements. This study contributes to the religious and cultural preservation of the Lenca people.