Shortly before Christmas, San Antonio Palopo has a very unique celebration, they will carry a statue of Maximon ( A Mayan Deity ) around town with a noose around his neck, they locals will then hang Maximon by his neck in front of Catholic church, they douse him in gas and set him on fire. This is the local way of showing respect to the new Christian god. Most of the inhabitants still pray to both the Christian and Mayan gods and deities such as Maximon or ancestors. They often ask for healing, wealth, help with love and sexual fertility.