Land of the deer

[Grute Man]

No Im not talking about MN but instead Mazatlan Mexico.  I forgot to mention this to everyone when I got back from my recent trip.  We were on a city tour when the tour guide told us that Mazatlan means "Land of the deer."  I didn't see any live ones while I was there but I did see many statues and bought a small wooden deer carving.  Also there are many superstitions and one of them has to do with the deer.

El Vanado Magico (The Magical Deer)
by Santos Daniel Carrillo

     The magical deer represents both the power of maize to sustain the body and of the peyote cactus to feed and enlighten the spirit.  (The green spiralling circles on the body are maize cobs seen on-end, and the eye is the peyote cactus.)
     Animals such as the eagle, jaguar, serpent, and the deer are of great importance for the Mexican indigenous cultures.  For each group, however, one of these animals is of special signigicance and this confers some of its qualities on the tribe.  For the Huichol it is the deer that holds this intimate role.  The character of the Huichol as a group tends to be light, flexible, and humerous.  They have avoided open warfare, neither fighting against the Spanish nor for the Mexican government but always maintained their traditions.
     The Huichol hunt and sacrifice deer in their ceremonies.  They make offerings to the Deer of the Miaze tocare for their crops, and to the Deer of the Peyote to bring them spiritual guidance and artistic inspiration.

I don't have picture right now but will get one soon.
Grute

[Grute Man]

OK here's the picture on a t=shirt.  The eye of the deer represents the peyote flower and the swirls on the body represent maize. 

[kenhuntin]

looks like they take that Peyote serious down there

[LLtaxidermy]

Enough peyote and you'll see some magical deer alright!!!!

[tripnchip]

Interesting Grute, thanks for sharing.