The story of Xtabay [pronounced Shta-bye] is on of the most popular tales of the Maya. It rooted in ancient times and changed quite a bit till today. Each village seams to have its own version and an account of experiences and victims. In the modern versions the Xtabay is an evil female spirit, somewhat as a Mayan version of a witch. She lives in the trunk of the Yax-che tree [Ceiba, Silk Cotton Tree]. The Xtabentum flower, a vine with beautiful purple flowers grows close by. She takes on the form of a beautiful woman who all man desire. She can only be seen in the nights of the full moon when she stands by her Ceiba Tree combing her long black hear until a man comes by from a night away from home. Something we would call 'a night out with the boys'. So he isn't thinking very clearly and surely forgot all the warnings about the Xtabay. When he sees her he is taken by her beauty and he will reach out to embrace her. But soon he feels her icy cold skin and tries to escape. But Xtabay is deadly. There are only a very few who were fast enough escaped and could tell their story. If Xtabay embraces a man the earth opens up and he disappears into the roots of the tree. It is said that there are hundreds of man trapped but it is not said what Xtabay has in mind for them. It is also said that the escapees in most cases lost their mind or died shortly after they saw her. But there is also the version, mostly told by woman, that the victims invent the story to explain their horrible condition after they had too much of the liquor made with the honey of bees who got the pollen from the Xtabentum Flowers.
How ever if you are visiting Maya country and you are a man be very careful in nights of the full moon especially if you drink Xtabentum liquor.

Four different photos were merged and treated with different filters and brushes in Digital Image Suite and Photo Shop.