Atamalqualiztli (The Eating of Water Tamales or the Festival of the Water Pancakes) was an
Aztec
The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the Post-Classic stage, post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central ...
festival held every eight years, either in the month of
Quecholli (late October-early November) or in
Tepeilhuitl (beginning of October). It involved a week-long period of fasting, in which people ate nothing except for a daily midday portion of unseasoned
tamales soaked in water. The festival was celebrated in order to allow the food to rest from being treated and cooked, with the belief that in this way the food would be revitalised. It was believed that those who did not celebrate the festival would be struck with
leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a Chronic condition, long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the Peripheral nervous system, nerves, respir ...
, and thus anyone who did not participate was disciplined. The morning after the festival was known as 'It is sprinkled with the acid of pepper', in honour of the end of the fast.
References
*Louise M. Burkhart, 'Mexica women on the home front: housework and religion in Aztec Mexico', in Susan Schroeder (ed.), ''Indian Women of Early Mexico'' (1997), p. 44.
*Frances Berdan, ''The Aztecs of Central Mexico'' (2005), p. 141.
*
J. Walter Fewkes, 'A Central American Ceremony Which Suggests the Snake Dance of the Tusayan Villagers', ''
American Anthropologist
''American Anthropologist'' is the flagship journal of the American Anthropological Association
The American Anthropological Association (AAA) is an American organization of scholars and practitioners in the field of anthropology. With 10,000 m ...
'', 6 (1893), pp. 285–306.
Aztec society
Pancake festivals