17 - Tlaxochimaco

Tlaxochimaco is the second to last of the ceremonies of Xopan, the season of rains. Its name means “Bouquet of Flowers,” for, nearing the end of the metztin of rain, the flowers are in bloom, and life and blossoms flourish. 

As a ceremony of flowers, it is also fittingly devoted to Xochiquetzal, the Plumed Blossom, who is the Teotl of love, embroidery and the female arts, flowers, and sex workers. Therefore, during Tlaxochimaco we celebrate Xochiquetzal and the qualities of flowers, of desire, poetry, love, femininity, and sexuality. Those who can go to the fields and forest and collect flowers of every kind, and leave them at the temple or altar overnight. At dawn thick ropes are made with the flowers, and the houses and altars decorated with them, and ropes of flowers placed around our necks, and crowns of flowers on our heads. Men and women dance together during Tlaxochimaco, their arms about one another´s waists, or holding hands and dancing snake dances, everyone linked to each other, or everyone dancing, hands held, about a round altar dedicated to Xochiquetzal. Lovers present one another with flowers, as a sign of their desire, and they make offerings to Xochiquetzal, that She might bless their union with Her gift of love and poetry, and incense-bearers bless couples in love with the smoke of copal, that Xochiquetzal might smile upon them. We celebrate the sensual, and give thanks to the Teteo for Their gifts of pleasure and joy. 

Tlaxochimaco is particularly sacred to female sex workers, weather assigned-female at birth, xochihua, or trans women. Male sex workers, as well as patlache or trans male sex workers, give honor to Macuilxochitl, Five Flower, on His feast day. During Tlazochimaco women and xochihua sex workers pray to Xochiqutzal to guide them towards wisdom and beauty, to keep them safe, to make them desirable and beguiling as Her vessels of pleasure. They throw feasts in Her honor, and give Her offerings of their own blood in gratitude for Her many gifts. 

Tlaxochimaco is also called Miccailhuitontli, which means “Little Feast of the Dead.” Originally, what is today Day of the Dead was celebrated during the metztin of Miccailhuitontli, which was dedicated to dead children, and the following metztli of Huey Miccailhuitl was devoted to our departed adults, but after the arrival of the Spanish both ceremonies came to be celebrated on the Catholic All Hallows Eve. Today, we put a great deal of energy into celebrating Day of the Dead, yet, during Tlaxochimaco, we should also leave offerings and gifts for our children who have departed, who on these days return to us and join with us in our feasting.

The Ceremonies of Tlaxochimaco

Houses and altars are decorated with flowers, ropes of flowers are placed around our necks, and crowns of flowers on our heads. Men and women dance together, their arms about one another´s waists, or hands held, about a round altar dedicated to Xochiquetzal. Lovers present one another with flowers, as a sign of their desire, and they make offerings to Xochiquetzal, that She might bless their union with Her gift of love and poetry, and incense-bearers bless couples in love with the smoke of copal, that Xochiquetzal might smile upon them. We celebrate the sensual, and give thanks to the Teteo for Their gifts of pleasure and joy. Likewise, women and xochihua sex workers pray to Xochiqutzal to guide them towards wisdom and beauty, to keep them safe, and to make them desirable and beguiling as Her vessels of pleasure.