The Aztec fourth ‘month’
What did the Aztecs prize most?
The rare remains of an Aztec waistcoat
The 20 day signs formed a precious necklace...
Coatlicue - the epitome of Aztec art
Evidence for cacao drinks go back to 1600 BCE!
Teaching resource - a Maya farmer’s house
Studying the surface of codices is a bit like s the surface of the moon
Lighting a fire on the top of a mountain gave out an ancient signal
Where to turn for good introductions to Mexica writing
Read a lovely story about Aztec companion spirits
On foot or by canoe the Aztecs were great travellers...
Did Sir Hans Sloane introduce chocolate to Britain?
Scientists try to reconstruct an ancient codex
The famous obsidian Aztec jar in the form of a spider monkey
What did the ancient Maya wear?
Large stone sculptures - perhaps the greatest Aztec artistic feat?
Lightning has ancient associations in Mesoamerica
The Aztecs had to be indoors every day by 6 pm!
How spies brought chocolate secrets to England...
Control of lake navigation was crucial to the Aztecs
General Aztecs Maya Tocuaro Kids Contact 27 May 2024/6 Eagle
Text Size:

Please support us on Patreon!
Link to page about the Maya Calendar
Today's Maya date is: 13.0.11.10.15 - 4176 days into the new cycle!
Link to page of interest to teachers
Click to find out how we can help you!
Search the Site (type in white box):
Welcome
Nahua ethics: Neutral Monism or Metaphysical Dualism?
Mesoamerican colours: a universal meaning (1)
Mesoamerican colours: a universal meaning (2)
The Curious History of Mazes
A maguey sports lunar symbol
Mesoamerica and the North American Southwest
Some thoughts on the design of the Tizoc Stone
Some thoughts on the design of the Aztec Sun Stone
‘Magic’ numbers
Aztec Social Classes
What’s up (top)?
Atrial crosses
The Aztec Legal System
The Aztec first ‘month’
The Aztec second ‘month’
Amaizing!
The Aztec third ‘month’
The Aztec fourth ‘month’
Article suitable for Top Juniors and above

4th ‘month’ in the Aztec solar calendar

The Aztec fourth ‘month’

The fourth in a series of short pieces that Zoe Ann Steenberge has kindly sent us, detailing the main points of the 18 months in the Aztec/Mexica ‘xiuhpohualli’ or farming/solar calendar.

Hueytozoztli

Hueytozoztli is the fourth month of the Aztec year and corresponds with the dates of April 13th-May 2nd in our calendar. Translated from the Nahuatl Hueytozoztli means great vigil. The gods who were honored during this time were Centeotl, Chalchiuhtlicue, Xilonen, Chicomecoatl, and Tlaloc. Ceremonies held in honor of the gods at this time were child sacrifice on Mt. Tlaloc and Pantitlan in Lake Texcoco; sacrifice of a maiden to earth and corn deities; ceremonial blood letting; worship of new corn and the blessing of the seed corn for that years planting; and decoration of house altars with corn plants. They even had the new corn blessed as well since this was an important aspect.

This article was uploaded to the Mexicolore website on Apr 07th 2014

Feedback button

Here's what others have said:

Mexicolore replies: According to Sahagún, a Mexica woman would breathe on dried grains of maize before cooking them, believing that this would cause the maize not to fear the fire. ‘Women would often pick up maize grains that were found on the floor with reverence, claiming “Our sustenance suffereth: it lieth weeping. If we should not gather it up, it would accuse us before our lord. It would say ‘O our lord, this vassal picked me not up when I lay scattered on the ground. Punish him!’ Or perhaps we should starve.”’ (Elizabeth Morán, ‘Sacred Consumption’)