A sacrifice, a fire, a prayer. How a Mexico City community celebrates its pre-Hispanic origins

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Claudia Santos’ spiritual journey left its mark on her skin.

Shortly after the 50-year-old embraced her pre-Hispanic heritage and pledged to speak up for her ancestors’ worldview in Mexico City, she tattooed the symbol ‘Ollin’ – which translates from the Nahuatl language as ‘movement ” – on her wrist.

“It’s an imprint of my Nahuatl name,” said Santos, dressed in white, feathers hanging from her neck. She was dressed to perform an ancestral Mexica ceremony on Tuesday in the Tepito neighborhood.

“It’s a sign that represents me, my identity.”

From 2021, when she co-founded an organization which raises awareness of her community Mexican heritageSantos and members of nearby indigenous communities gather until mid-August to honor Cuauhtémoc, who was the last emperor or “tlatoani” of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, as the capital was known before it fell to the Spanish in 1521.

“It’s important to be here 503 years after what happened, not only to dignify Tepito as an indigenous neighborhood where there was resistance, strength and perseverance,” Santos said. “But also because this is an energy portal, a sacred ‘teocalli’ (‘House of God’, in Nahuatl).”

The place she chose for the ceremony has a deeply sacred meaning in Mexican history. Although it is now a Catholic church, it is also where Cuauhtémoc – a political and spiritual leader – initiated the final defense of the territory that was lost to the European conquerors.

“Our grandfather, Cuauhtémoc, is still among us,” said Santos, who explained that where the church now stands is aligned with the sun. “The cosmic memories of our ancestors join us today.”

Although he was not present during the pre-Hispanic rituals, the priest in charge of the Tepito church allowed Santos and other indigenous leaders to move freely through the temple’s esplanade. Their preparations began early each morning, carefully placing roses, fruit, seeds and carvings of pre-Hispanic figures among other items.

“I am very grateful to be given the chance to once again occupy our sacred complexes,” Santos said. “Making that connection between a religious faith and a spiritual one is a joy.”

Before Tuesday’s ceremony, as this year’s activities began on August 9, a Mayan spiritual guide was also invited to perform a ritual at the main entrance of the church.

“This is an act of kneeling humbly, not in humiliation, to make an offering to our Creator,” said Gerardo Luna, the Mayan leader who offered honey, incense, sugar, liquor and other elements as food for the fire.

“Fire is the element that connects us to the spirit of the Creator, which permeates all that exists,” Luna said, also praising the opportunity to practice her beliefs in a Catholic space.

“There are different ways to understand spirituality, but there is only one language, the language of the heart,” Luna said. “Our Catholic brothers breathe the same air as we do. We all have red blood in our veins, and your bones and mine are the same.”

Some locals approached the church and joined in both Mayan and Mexica ceremonies. They were attracted by the sound of a conch shell being blown to announce the rituals and the smoke given off by the burning of a resin known as ‘copal’.

Lucía Moreno, 75, said participating made her feel at peace. Tomás García, 42, added that he is Catholic, but these ceremonies “purify” him and allow him to renounce any wrongdoing.

“Tlalmanalli,” as the Mexica ceremony is known, is an offering to Mother Earth. All members of the community are encouraged to participate and benefit from its spiritual strength.

“What people take with them is medicinal,” Santos said. “Everything is blessed, so people leave with life-long medicine that they can use in times of sadness.”

She wasn’t always aware of the depth of Mexica and other pre-Hispanic worldviews, but a few decades ago, feeling that Catholicism no longer fulfilled her spiritually, she began to look for more.

She researched Buddhism and Hinduism. She practiced yoga and studied awakening the mind. But still, she asked herself, “What is in my country? Why, if other nations have gurus, are there no widely known spiritual references in Mexico?”

And then he found them. Mexico gave him answers. They were wise, spiritual people who resisted what others brought upon them, always connected to their ancestors and the depth of their land.

As part of her transformation, she was given a new name, this time in Nahuatl and related to the pre-Hispanic calendar. And so, as her parents baptized her in the same Tepito church where she now performs Mexica rituals, she embraced her current spirituality in a “sowing” ceremony, where she became “Ollin Chalchiuhtlicue,” meaning “precious movement of water”. .”

The name, she said, also comes with a purpose. As instructed, she defined her life mission after the ceremony. Santos chose to obey Cuauhtémoc’s last wishes for his people: the sun may have set on us, but it will rise again. In the meantime, we must tell our children – and their children’s children – how great is the glory of our Motherland.

“Through the spirituality of our Mexica tradition we take back the dignity and essence of our indigenous community,” Santos said. “Being here today is a joy, but also a hard work.”

“Tepito exists because it resisted, and we will continue to resist.”

____

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through AP collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content.