16 - Huey Tecuilhuitl

Huey Tecuilhuitl, the Great Feast of Lords, is a time for those who are privileged and wealthy to contemplate their good fortune, and to pay back their debt. To be wealthy is relative. Unless you are homeless, or struggle to put food on the table, or find yourself unable to pay your rent or for the education of your children, you are wealthy. Your wealth may not be so great as that of your neighbor, but it is far greater than those less fortunate than you, who never had the opportunities you had, or who were brought down by the tricks and terrible mischievousness of Tezcatlipoca, such as alcoholics, or drug addicts, or people with mental health issues, and any other who has lost their way or never had an opportunity and consequently lives in poverty. Rather than judge others for having fallen, you should thank Tezcatlipoca for not having led you down the path He led them, for it is only through the tricks of destiny Tezcatlipoca plays upon us that some fall and others succeed. 

In the past, the lords held feasts on Huey Tecuilhuitl for the poor and humble.

During this time, late in the rainy season, many of the common people had eaten most of the corn they had stored since the last harvest, but the new harvest was still unripe in the fields. Therefore, even as the earth bloomed, the people often went hungry. The feasts of Huey Tecuilhuitl were a way for the wealthy to aid their poorer neighbors, and to help make it through that last difficult moment before the maize ripened. None who came to the banquets were turned away, and all joined in the dancing and merriment. 

Therefore, we should volunteer at homeless shelters or perhaps invite immigrants at a shelter to a feast, or find other ways to help the poor and hungry, each according to our means, for the greater our wealth, the greater our responsibility. We look to the blooming of Our Mother the Earth and Centeotl the Corn as He ripens on the stalk, and strive to be like Them, who give their fruit to any who tend the soil, and who provide for all Their children. 

Xilonen, who is another manifestation of the maize, is also honored on Huey Tecuilhuitl. Xilonen is the young corn-plant, newly sprung from the earth. She is the tender stalk, yet to bear fruit. She is placed on the altar, together with Centeotl, and given offerings of yellow fruits and yellow flowers. We dance for Her, the women in an inner circle closest to Her image, and the men in the outer circle, and all hold yellow flowers in one hand, and stalks of corn plants in the other. all wear crowns and necklaces of yellow flowers as well. The participants paint their faces with pyrite powder, or, if such cannot be obtained, with golden glitter. All who feel so called pierce their finger-tips, tongue, or ear-lobes with maguey spines, and sprinkle their blood on strips of paper, which are offered to Xilonen, and later burned. A feast is then held for those who have participated, with much drinking of pulque, merriment, and joy, as all gathered cry out in thanks to Xilonen for Her gift of maize and life.

The Ceremonies of Huey Tecuilhuitl

Xilonen, who is another manifestation of the maize, is also honored on Huey Tecuilhuitl. Xilonen is the young corn-plant, newly sprung from the earth. She is placed on the altar, together with Centeotl, and given offerings of yellow fruits and flowers. We dance for Her, the women in an inner circle closest to Her image, and the men in the outer circle, and all hold yellow flowers in one hand, and stalks of corn plants in the other, and all wear crowns and necklaces of yellow flowers. The participants paint their faces with pyrite powder, or, if such cannot be obtained, with golden glitter. All who feel so called pierce their finger-tips, tongue, or ear-lobes with maguey spines, and sprinkle their blood on strips of paper, which are offered to Xilonen, and later burned. A feast is then held for those who have participated, with much drinking of pulque, merriment, and joy, as all gathered cry out in thanks to Xilonen for Her gift of maize and life.