Private experiences We visited Maximon in Santiago/Atitlan what was quite impressive. Every year he lives with another family. People give him their only livingroom and decorate it like a shrine or temple. People from all around come for prayers, offerings and help. At his special day around easter, there is a big prozession carrying maximon from his home to the lake, where he and his cloth are cleaned. Afterwards he gets new ties every year and he is brought to another proud family to stay there for the next year.

I liked Maximon from the beginning on. He combines so much. He is the door opener and protector like Exu/Eleggua in vodoo. He has the aspect of the old wise man like Exu´s counterpart Papa Legba. He is the Pan, who stands for fertility and life energy, but he is also the trickster who loves dirty jokes and tricks. We have a Maximon in our house for more then a year now. He sits besides the Elegguas and gets his smoke and drinks. Beside our very personal experiences, people coming to our house show big respect. The plumber came in, saw Maximon, put his bag down and greeted him. I was surprised. Some worship him, some just respect him and some seem even to be scared, but everyone knows Maximon.