We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is “Fantastic Females in Folk & Fairy Tales.”
About Nahua People:
The Nahua People come from Mesoamerica mainly in the Mexico and El Salvador though can also be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. These people highly celebrate agriculture with special attention to corn. This featured story emphasizes corn and ends with a flower. A settlement or neighborhood (barrio) has the church centered geographically and then a mix of common and private lands for farming. Have you heard of the Aztecs? Yes, often Aztecs are also known to be the Nahua.
50-word-or-less summary
Dual natures: Xochiquetzal (Flower Beauty)/Xochipilli (Flower Prince). Chose to be female. Married Pilzinteuctli. Bore two-spirited baby named Chicomecoatl. As baby crawled, corn grew from earth. Baby was Xilonen (Goddess of Corn) or Cineteotl (God of Dried Maize). Meanwhile, Xochiquetzal wished to return to paradise. Xochiquetzal/Xochipilli became single flower (Xochitl).
Finding the Story:
Book – “Xochipilli and Xochiquetzal” in The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas – here
Wikipedia – “Xōchiquetzal” – here
The Aztec Goddess Xochiquetzal, Her Legend, Symbols and Powers – here
Goddess of the Month: Xochiquetzal (‘Quetzal Flower’) – here
Finding the “Fantastic”:
So many “X” names with several being female…fantastic!
Xochiquetzal followed her heart and knew she needed to leave paradise and come to earth. As a result, she got married and had a child that brought forth the gift of corn to people. She nurtured her dual-natured (female/male) baby just as she was dual-natured and her parents and grandparents before her.
Eventually, Xochiquetazal realized that her desires were different than her husband’s desires. They parted in such an amicable way, especially when Xochiquetazal transformed her husband into a deer (exactly what he wanted). When she had split from herself (as they were the same being), Xochiquetazal and Xochipilli gave another gift to the world of being a flower.
The pursuit of goodness and knowing who one was at the moment was inspiring and…well…fantastic!
Recommended Article:
While we focused on corn and flowers, the dove can also represent Xochiquetzal. Read this article entitled “Understanding Xochiquetzal: The Dove as Responsibility” written by Latino Heritage Internship Program.
Thoughts?
Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See our popular links and upcoming events at our One-Stop.
As for our past A to Z Challenges…
Story Crossroads celebrates the hybrid Summit & Festival on May 13-16, 2024 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival
Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; and people like you.