Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish AmericaJoyce, Thomas Athol
History
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America
Joyce, Thomas Athol
Mayas -- Antiquities; Mexico -- Antiquities
_Xul._ The great festival to Kukulkan, held at Mani after the
destruction of Mayapan. The other provinces sent deputations with
great feather banners, which were placed in the temple; new fire was
made, idols exhibited, and five nights were spent in singing and
dancing, during which professional singers went from house to house
of the lords. The offerings consisted mainly of food and drink, and
the deputations departed taking with them the banners which they had
brought.
_Yaxkin._ Preparations were made for a festival to be held in the
next month to all the gods (corresponding in some degree to the Mexican
Teotleco). The implements of all professions and domestic implements
were painted blue, and nine blue dots were marked on the hands of
children, to make them useful.
_Mol._ Besides the feast just mentioned, the bee-keepers held
another, in order that the gods might send a full supply of flowers for
the bees. In this month also began the preparations for the manufacture
of wooden idols, which was a very serious matter. The wooden idols,
which were more highly esteemed than those of stone or clay, were made
by professional artists, and it was believed that certain penalties
attached to the trade, viz. that the carving of an idol entailed the
death of one of the artists, or at least the contraction of some
heart-complaint. Certain priests, the Chacs and the artists themselves,
observed a rigorous fast, while those who desired idols procured
cedar-wood. A special hut was built, and the priests, Chacs and workers
were closely secluded in it while the work proceeded, the images in
course of construction being sprinkled with blood and censed with copal.
_Chen._ The new idols, now made, were taken to the temple, and
there purified and blessed by the officiating priest, after which they
were handed over to the new owners, wrapped in cloth and placed in a
basket. The stipulated price was paid in game and the local currency.
_Yax._ In this or the preceding month the temple in honour of the
Chac agricultural gods was renovated, and their pottery, idols and
braziers were repainted or renewed.
_Zac._ The hunters held a festival in order to appease the gods
for shedding blood, since bloodshed, except in the cause of religion,
was considered displeasing to the supernatural powers, probably because
blood was _par excellence_ the divine offering.
_Ceh._ No festival is recorded.
_Mac._ A ceremony was held by those more advanced in life to the
Chac, fertility gods, associated with Itzamna. A large fire was lit in
the temple court, into which were cast the hearts of various animal
sacrifices, lions, tigers and crocodiles. If animals of this size
could not be obtained, imitation hearts, formed of copal, were offered
instead. The Chac priests then quenched the fire with water, a ceremony
which, by imitative magic, was supposed to ensure a good rainfall.
_Kankin._ No festival mentioned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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