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Oct 31, 2023 · Mexican mythology, like its population, reflects a mixture of indigenous and Spanish influences. Most people in modern Mexico trace their ancestry to the Native Americans, to the Spaniards who controlled Mexico for three centuries, or to both, in a mixed heritage called mestizo.
- Greg Ramos
- Mexican Mythology in Context
- The Black Legend
- CORE Deities and Characters
- Major Myths
- Key Themes and Symbols
- Mexican Mythology in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life
- Read, Write, Think, Discuss
Mexico's mythology, like its population, reflects a blend of Native American and Spanish influences. Most people in modern Mexico trace their ancestry to American Indians, to the Spanish who controlled Mexico for three centuries, or to both, in a mixed-ethnic heritage called mestizo (pronounced mes-TEE-zoh). In the same way, Mexican religion, myths...
The term “Black Legend” refers to a centuries-old view of Spain and its people as particularly cruel, prejudiced, and greedy. Some of the literature that promoted the Black Legend came from European Protestants hostile to Catholic Spain. But part of the Black Legend emerged from the writings of Bartolome de Las Casas, a Spanish bishop who served in...
Perhaps the most widely recognized and honored figure of Mexican religious mythology is the Virgin of Guadalupe (pronounced gwah-duh-LOO-pay). Tradition says that in 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared before a peasant named Juan Diego on Tepeyac, a hill to the north of Mexico City, and told him that she wished to have a church built there. When the bish...
Myths and tales told in modern Mexico not only amuse and entertain but also preserve old traditions and offer lessons in good or wise behavior. Some stories reflect pre-Christian beliefs, mentioning Father Sun and Mother Moon, once regarded as deities. Legend says that eclipses—during which part or all of the sunor moon is hidden by shadow—are caus...
One recurring theme in Mexican mythology is death. The ancient belief that people's personalities and needs continue unchanged after death leads to the custom of burying possessions and useful objects with the dead. A related belief is the notion that the dead can harm the living unless ceremonies are performed to keep them from doing so. This them...
Several aspects of modern Mexican culture show the importance of myths in national life. Religious fiestas, or festivals, often combine pagan traditions with the worship of Christian saints. Mourning and funeral practices are also a blend of American Indian and Christian ideas. On November 1 and 2, the people of Mexico celebrate a national holiday ...
A blending of beliefs is common in regions that are conquered by people with a different cultural background from the native peoples. Using your library, the Internet, or other available resources, research a North American Indian group whose religious beliefs and myths were transformed after contact with Europeans. How does that example compare wi...
- Huitzilopochtli, Father of the Aztecs. Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee) was the patron god of the Aztecs. During the great migration from their legendary home of Aztalan, Huitzilopochtli told the Aztecs where they should establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan and urged them on their way.
- Tlaloc, God of Rain and Storms. Tlaloc (pronounced Tláh-lock), the rain god, is one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica. Associated with fertility and agriculture, his origins can be traced back to Teotihuacan, the Olmec and the Maya civilizations.
- Tonatiuh, God of the Sun. Tonatiuh (pronounced Toh-nah-tee-uh) was the Aztec sun god. He was a nourishing god who provided warmth and fertility to the people.
- Tezcatlipoca, God of Night. Tezcatlipoca (pronounced Tez-cah-tlee-poh-ka)'s name means “Smoking Mirror” and he is often represented as an evil power, associated with death and cold.
Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of the Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. [1] The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking groups living in central Mexico and much of their mythology is similar to that of other Mesoamerican cultures.
Aztec mythology is the collected myths and legends of the Aztec people. One of their best-known myths is the founding of the city Tenochtitlan, built on the spot where the travelers saw an eagle perched on a cactus and holding a rattlesnake, an image which endures on the Mexican flag today.
Jan 8, 2021 · The legends of Mexico are undoubtedly surprising stories, from the incredible feats of the Mexican Revolution to the great Mexican icons we know today. However, other stories have transcended time due to their historical importance, and that combine fantasy, the surreal, and reality.
Jun 24, 2023 · 1. Huitzilopochtli – ‘The Hummingbird of the South’. Huitzilopochtli was the father of the Aztecs and the supreme god for the Méxica. His nagual or animal spirit was the eagle. Unlike many other Aztec deities, Huitzilopochtli was intrinsically a Mexica deity with no clear equivalent in earlier Mesoamerican cultures.
