What is Chuj (bathhouse)?
A '''chuj''' is a traditional [[Mayan civilization|Maya]]n [[bathhouse]]. It is a sweat bath or [[steam bath]]. Traditional chuj had stone walls and live [[sod]] roofs. This means the [[roof]] was made of [[earth]] or [[soil]] and had plants growing on it. Today, some chuj are made out of [[cinder block]]s instead.<ref name=Anomaly>{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238747098|accessdate=July 28, 2022|author1=Matthew K. Steinberg|author2=Michael Taylor|title=Guatemala's Altos de Chiantla: Changes on the High Frontier|date=August 2008|journal=Mountain Research and Development|type=Full text |volume=28|issue=3|pages=255–262|doi=10.1659/mrd.0891|s2cid=130796411 }}</ref><ref name=Verge>{{cite magazine|title=A Ritual Cleansing in Guatemala|accessdate=July 28, 2022|url=https://www.vergemagazine.com/volunteer-abroad/blogs/1210-a-ritual-cleansing-in-guatemala.html|magazine=Verge|author1=Trina Moyles}}</ref> Each family would build their own chuj near their house out of stone or [[adobe]] bricks. The chuj has no windows. Inside, the people heat rocks until they are hot. Then they throw water onto the rocks to make [[steam]]. The bathers lie down on wooden beds in the hut. The traditional belief is that the chuj cleans the body and also the spirit and mind.<ref name=Verge /> ==References== {{reflist}} {{stub}} [[Category:Hygiene]] [[Category:Guatemala]]