Origin of Quetzaltenango

Uqul já is the original name of the Valley of Quetzaltenango that signifies “Throat of water." When the valley which was terreritory of Mam, was conquered by the Quichés (1400 AD approximately),  they named this valley “Xelajuj”  It means: Xe: under, or by the foot; and lajuj: ten, in relation to the 10 mountains surrounding the valley of Quetzaltenango. Later, the Náhuatl that came with the Spanish conquerors gave the name of Quetzaltenango in May 15, 1524 which means“surrounding wall of quetzal" and settled down at the location now known as Salcajá. The settlement was relocated 4 years later to the valley of Xelajú in 1529 and since then the valley has been called Quetzaltenango.

 

The Quiché ruler and its people fought in the Spanish conquest and one of the fiercest battle registered is the battle in the Valley of Urbina where Tecún Umán, the Quiché leader died in February 12, 1524. (The existence of Tecún Umán is registered in the Título de Ixquín Nehaib). Paragraphs taken from: folklore  y turismo, patrimonio cultural y natural, historia de la arquitectura. Intecap Centro de Capacitación Quetzaltenango. April 4 – 13, 2005 Insructor: Licda. Rosa Leonor de Ordóñez