Huixtocihuatl

HUIXTOCIHUATL (salt woman) is the Aztec Fertility Goddess who presided over salt and salt water. She is the older sister of the Tlaloques, the Aztec rain Gods; the most important of these was Tlaloc, the Lord of the Celestial Waters. It is the Tlaloques who are responsible for releasing the rains and one day, when they were in a heated argument, they drove Huixtocihuatl off and threw all of their salt water at her; thus, this gave her rulership over it forever. She is usually depicted as a woman wearing a skirt which is adorned with waves. She carries a special shield with the picture of a Water Lily and wears golden bells around Her ankles.

IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, THE AZTECS HELD A CELEBRATION WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE HER, A CONTINUED CELEBRATION OF THE COMING OF WATER, ALONG WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CROPS. DURING THIS MONTH, THE CITY WAS DECORATED WITH WATER FLOWERS, AND A SPECIALLY CHOSEN WOMAN WAS SACRIFICED TO HUIXTOCIHUATL. THE FESTIVAL ITSELF LASTED FOR A PERIOD OF TEN DAYS,AND DURING THIS TIME, THE MAKERS OF SALT CELEBRATED THEIR GODDESS WITH A SERIES OF DANCES. THE DANCES WERE MADE IN PAIRS, EACH OF THE DANCE PARTNERS HOLDING ONE END OF A ROPE WHILE SINGING FOR THEIR GODDESS.

AND THEN FROM JULY 23RD THROUGH AUGUST 11TH, ANOTHER FESTIVAL WAS HELD. FOR TWO DAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FESTIVAL, THE PEOPLE WOULD TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE CITY IN ORDER TO PICK WILD FLOWERS WHICH WERE THEN OFFERED TO THE GODS AND TO ANCESTORS. MEN AND WOMEN WOULD TOUCH HANDS WHILE DANCING, HOWEVER, THE DANCES DURING THE RITUALS WERE SOMBER AFFAIRS. AND AGAIN, DURING THIS MONTH, A SPECIALLY DESIGNATED SACRIFICE WAS OFFERED TO HUITZILOPOCHTLI.

Credit: masonsofheaven.blogspot.com