In ancient Maya times, children had very different lives to today. They dressed differently and their homes were much smaller.
Families lived in great cities like Yax Mutal and Palenque, and also in surrounding farmland.
Adults worked as farmers, warriors, hunters, builders, teachers and many other things. Children from noble families could learn maths, science, writing and astronomy, but poorer children were only taught their parents’ jobs.
I am Jade Skirt and welcome to my family’s farm, not everyone lives in the city you know.
We live and sleep in one big room covered by a thatched palm leaf roof.
There are no windows, just one open doorway. But it keeps us cool and out of the sun.
While my father hunts in the jungle, or works in the fields with his tools, my mother grinds corn next to the hearth in the centre of the house.
Oh!
Children don’t wear any clothes until they are 5, then there is a ceremony where boys receive a loin-cloth, like that one, and girls get to wear a skirt.
Do you know what I would love?
A really big tattoo!
But the best tattoos are for noble girls.
My brother is soooo lucky, he is a warrior and as a reward for fighting bravely he is getting an enormous tattoo.
Maybe he isn’t so brave after all!
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