People, 2nd prize
La Maya Tradition
Daniel Ochoa de Olza
02 May, 2015
The feast of Las Mayas, in Colmenar Viejo, on the outskirts of Madrid, has its origins in pagan ritual. It is held annually at the beginning of May, to celebrate spring. Five or six groups create altars adorned with plants and flowers on the main town square and adjacent streets, and each selects a young girl between the ages of six and 15 to be a ‘Maya’. She must then sit on the altar—very still, silent and serious—wearing a white blouse and skirt, and a Manila shawl.
Daniel Ochoa de Olza
Daniel Ochoa de Olza was born the son of a writer and an art history teacher in Pamplona in October, 1978. His interest turned from painting to photography in 2001 when he star...
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