In the highlands of Guatemala, the Maya Indians weave colorful, vibrant textiles. Many of these beautiful fabrics are used to make traditional clothing for the men, women, and children who live in the rural villages. In Mayan culture, dress is important for more than just keeping warm and covered. It serves as a sort of uniform that immediately identifies the wearer as belonging to a particular cultural group or village. Most of the weaving and other textile arts of Guatemala are learned in the home. Children learn about weaving from an early age. They spend hours observing, first from their mother's backs and later sitting nearby as their mothers weave. Over the years, pressures from other cultures have impacted the Maya in Guatemala. In particular, political violence in the 1970s threatened the traditional way of life in Guatemala. Many things have changed, but the way that mothers and fathers teach their children remains the same. Young Mayan girls in Guatemala hold the future of weaving in their hands. Hopefully they will continue to weave a beautiful rainbow of thread, a tradition that started in their country a long time ago.