Aztec New Year

TheMexica New Year(Spanish:Año Nuevo MexicanoorAño Nuevo Azteca;Nahuatl languages:Yancuic Xīhuitl,pronounced[ˈjaŋkʷikˈʃiːwit͡ɬ]) is the celebration of thenew yearaccording to theAztec calendar.The date on which the holiday falls in theGregorian calendardepends on the version of the calendar used,but it is generally considered to occur at sunrise on 12 March.The holiday is observed in someNahuacommunities inMexico.To celebrate,ocote(pitch-pine) candles are lit on the eve of the new year, along with fireworks, drumming, and singing. Some of the most important events occur inHuauchinango,Naupan,Mexico City,Zongolica,andXicotepec.

The latest and more accepted version was proposed by professor Rafael Tena (INAH), based on the studies of Durán, Sahagún and Alfonso Caso (UNAM).His correlation confirms that the first day of the Mexica year wasFebruary 13thaccording to the old Julian calendar orFebruary 23rdof the current Gregorian calendar. Using the same count, it has been verified the date of the birth ofHuitzilopochtli,the end of the year and a cycle or "Tie of the Years," and theNew Fire Ceremony,day-sign "1 Tecpatl" of the year "2 Acatl,"corresponding to the date February 22nd.

This 365-day calendar was corresponded with the solar year, was divided into 18 'months' of 20 days each, plus 5'nameless' daysat the end of the year. Also, there are some codices that show the existence of the leap year.