AZTEC CEREMONY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18614, 9 July 1930, Page 16

AZTEC CEREMONY.

SUN GOD CELEBRATIONS. Covoacan. a histone suburb of Mexico City that has retained much of its authentic colonial architecture, and May 17 was the scene of the revival of the ceremony that represents the “parsing of the sun through its zenith.** which to the Azetc Indians meant "the descent of the sun god” and marked the beginning of their new year, says the New York Herald Tribune. The phenomenon occurs only between the tropical lines of Cancer and Capricorn in latitudes 23 degrees north and 23 degrees south. Within this zone the sun oasses through the zenith of each latitude twice a year, when for a moment all vertical objects cast no shadow. The zone affected embodies all cr parts of Mexico, Colombia. Panama. Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. Brazil and Paraguay. The ancient Mexicans. Mayas. Peruvians and others observed the phenomenon by means of a richly decorated column, or sun pillar. When it occurred for the first time each year, on May 17. in Mexico City it was hailed with great joy and feasting, for it marked the end of the long season of drought and the arrival of the rainy season. The rainy season sets in ‘ owing to the vertical heat of the sun over a particular area, inducing an indraft of air and an ascending current of warm and moist air. which, condensed in high regions of atmosphere, falls as rain, the condensation making way for further indraft.” The ancient Aztecs and other inhabitants of tropical America interpreted the momentary disappearance of shadows as owing to a “descent of the sun god/" to bring ne 4 * , *d earth. Therefore they celebrated the occasion with offerings of flowers and precious objects placed around the sun pillar, and in som° countries with human sacrifices. There was always dancing and Ringing. It was the revival of this great day of the pre-conquest era by an American woman. Mrs Zelia Nuttall. with. Coyoacan as the appropriate stage setting, that took place to-day as thousands of school children, dressed in Aztec costumes, participated in the festivities.

Mrs Nuttall is a native of San Francisco and is internationally known for her historic and archaeological research work. She is honorary professor of archaeology at the National Museum of Mexico, fellow of the American Anthropological Association and a member of the American Philosophical Society. After giving much time to investigation of matters pertaining to Aztecs, Mrs Nuttall has prepared and read many papers before American. British, Italian and Mexican scientific societies showing the religious rnd material influence the passing of the sun through its zenith had on the Aztecs and the important part the day played in the Aztec calender system, which was known as “Tonalamati.” She began by urging scientists and educators of Mexico four years ago that the “descent of the sun god” festivar should be revived and she succeeded in gaining official recognition, but not until this year has the festival been reproduced on such a large After the conquest and the subsequent introduction of the Christian calendar by the Spaniards, the ancient sun festival was suppressed and in order to exterminate what was condemned as heathenism all sun pillars and stelae, which had been used as gnomo were systematically destroyed or buried. Having ceased to be observed, the phenomenon itself was forgotten. In Mexico City, or the ancient Tenochtitlan, as the capital was known at the time, the sun passes twice a year through its zenith. May 17 and July 26. In Mexico, Yucatan, for example, the second occurrence of the phenomenon is on July 19. But, according to investigations made by Mrs Nuttall, the second date went by uncelebrated, at least as far as the Aztecs were concerned. because the phenomenon itself could rarely be observed. The day falls in the middle of the rainy season, when it nearly always cloudy. Special significance is being attached to the observance of the phenomenon here this year, at present Mexico is manifesting much interest in the world calendar refoim movement, which would change the present calendar system to one constantly of thirteen months. Moses B. Cots worth, i League of Nations expert on calendar reform, and director of the International Fixed Calendar League, London, recently visited Mexico in connection with the movement.