The name Chichicastenango comes from the Nahuatl word Tzitzicastli, which was changed to Tzitzicastenanco and later to Tzitzicastenango, which means “in the enclosure of the nettles or in the place walled in by nettles”. In Spanish, the nettle plant is commonly known as “chichicaste”.

Santo Tomás Chichicastenango is one of the most colorful and interesting villages in Guatemala. The K’iche’ settled it in 1524, after escaping the destruction of Utatlán. It is located 146 km. (103.7 miles) from Guatemala City at an altitude of 2070 m. (6,791 ft). The Indians, native to the town, are known as “maxeños” a variation of the name Tomás which is “Max” in K’iche’. Currently, the mother tongue of 93% of the population is K’iche’ and Spanish for the remaining 7%.  Approximately 85% of the population lives in surrounding K’iche’ Indian communities and travel to Chichicastenango only on market days and feast days. It is considered as the most important and colorful market in the country which takes place in the town's central plaza.