Ceremonial headdress (tzute)

Men in Chichicastenango no longer wear traditional everyday dress (traje), but their ceremonial traje is among the most spectacular in the Guatemalan highlands. Loosely patterned after a Spanish matador's costume, the heavy woolen jacket and pants are opulently embroidered in silk or synthetic silk floss, often by the owner. One large red tzute is carefully arranged as a head covering, while an additional tzute may be worn over the shoulders or used to carry ritual objects or candles during ceremonies. This ceremonial attire is reserved for men selected to serve the community as a member of the cofradía, a religious group. The size and intricacy of this motif indicates the man's relative standing within the community. Young men have rather small designs, reflecting their youth and inexperience; as they grow and mature they embroider larger, more elaborate embellishments.