Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known by his initials AMLO, caused quite a stir last week. He posted a photo on his social media accounts claiming to have captured an image of a woodland spirit. He added that the image “appears to be an Aluxe.” And claimed that “everything is mystical.”
The president’s tweet was liked more than 40,000 times and drew thousands of comments from users who did not seem to take it seriously.
Some have suggested that it was a way for AMLO to be playful and still show his appreciation for Mayan culture and beliefs. Others have criticized the post. And view it as a distraction from more pressing issues facing the country.
Les comparto dos fotos de nuestra supervisión a las obras del Tren Maya: una, tomada por un ingeniero hace tres días, al parecer de un aluxe; otra, de Diego Prieto de una espléndida escultura prehispánica en Ek Balam. Todo es místico. pic.twitter.com/Tr5OP2EqmU
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) February 25, 2023
The picture shows a tree with a branch forming what looks like a halo of hair, and what may be stars forming the figure’s eyes.
The “Aluxe” is a mischievous woodland spirit in Mayan folklore. According to traditional Mayan belief, these small creatures inhabit forests and fields. And they enjoy playing tricks on people. And legend has it that the Aluxe likes to hide things, including itself.
