Birth
In the Aztec society, women giving birth were as honored as Aztec warriors as they were delivering the next generation of warriors and mothers. War was even used as a symbol of childbirth. The baby was "captive" in the womb, struggling to break free. The woman was also in a battle through her labor to deliver the baby. Many woman that died in childbirth was glorified in the same way as a warrior who died in battle and honoured for her courage. She was given the burial of a warrior. They believed that these women were now goddesses with the Sun God and that they gave special blessings and strength to warriors in battle.
There were many restrictions when a woman was pregnant. This was to insure that the child was born healthy. Pregnant woman received special care from a midwife, wise female elders in their village. The midwife gave the pregnant woman advice such as: don't chew gum or the baby will be born with a swollen mouth and will not be able to eat; don't let the father go out at night because if he sees something that frightens him, the baby will be born with heart disease.
The midwife cared for the woman during labor, delivery and also took charge of the baby immediately after its birth. During labor, the midwife would say prayers to the goddess of childbirth, Tlazolteotl. She would also give a sedative drink made of herbs and grasses to the woman in labor. After the woman gave birth, the midwife would then shout war cries to honor the mother for her battle in giving birth. Then she would bathe the baby and name it. The parents did not get a choice on what name to give the baby. Baby boys would be given the symbols of war: a shield and arrows. Girls would be given the symbols of home: a broom, a distaff (a tool used to spin thread), and a basket for weaving work. The baby was then lifted in the air into all four directions, north, east, south and west for the baby to be shown to the gods. Umbilical cords would be preserved. When a son reached adulthood, he would carry his umbilical cord to a distant battlefield and bury it. A daughter would bury her umbilical cord next to the family hearth
After this ceremony, visitors would come to the house to honor the midwife, the mother and the new baby. A soothsayer would also be called to study the signs of the child. He would look at the baby's horoscope. The birth would cause more ritual and great celebration.
There were many restrictions when a woman was pregnant. This was to insure that the child was born healthy. Pregnant woman received special care from a midwife, wise female elders in their village. The midwife gave the pregnant woman advice such as: don't chew gum or the baby will be born with a swollen mouth and will not be able to eat; don't let the father go out at night because if he sees something that frightens him, the baby will be born with heart disease.
The midwife cared for the woman during labor, delivery and also took charge of the baby immediately after its birth. During labor, the midwife would say prayers to the goddess of childbirth, Tlazolteotl. She would also give a sedative drink made of herbs and grasses to the woman in labor. After the woman gave birth, the midwife would then shout war cries to honor the mother for her battle in giving birth. Then she would bathe the baby and name it. The parents did not get a choice on what name to give the baby. Baby boys would be given the symbols of war: a shield and arrows. Girls would be given the symbols of home: a broom, a distaff (a tool used to spin thread), and a basket for weaving work. The baby was then lifted in the air into all four directions, north, east, south and west for the baby to be shown to the gods. Umbilical cords would be preserved. When a son reached adulthood, he would carry his umbilical cord to a distant battlefield and bury it. A daughter would bury her umbilical cord next to the family hearth
After this ceremony, visitors would come to the house to honor the midwife, the mother and the new baby. A soothsayer would also be called to study the signs of the child. He would look at the baby's horoscope. The birth would cause more ritual and great celebration.
Marriage
The marriage ritual of the Aztecs was extremely complicated involving their school teachers, family and friends. When a boy was in his late teens or early twenties, his family invited his teacher to a formal banquet. To show that the boy was mature enough to marry and is no longer a school boy. The teacher was presented with an ax and asked for permission to "cut" the boy free from the school. As a sign of their agreement, the teacher accepted the ax. The boy is now able to marry
Parents arranged marriages between their children. Girls were normally married in their teens. Once a suitable bride was found, the parents would have a professional matchmaker (ahatanzah) who would propose for the boy's family. The parents of the young woman would then tell the matchmaker whether or not they accept the proposal. Once the proposal was accepted, preparations for the wedding ceremony and the feast began. It takes a long time. The family and friends decide on a "lucky" day, gathered cacao, pipes for smoking, flowers and made tamales and a beer made from cactus and honey. The marriage celebration would last for five days and the wedding will take place on the first day.
On the wedding day, the bride would be bathed by her female friends and relatives and be decorated with red feathers on her arms and legs. Her face would be painted in a red paste containing small shimmering crystals. Then the eldest female relative carried the bride on her back to the groom's house for the wedding.
The ceremony would take place at the groom's parent's house. A fire would be lit in the hearth and incense would be burned as an offering to the gods. The groom's parents would give presents to the bride's parents such as robes and mantles. The bride and the groom would also receive a gift of new clothes from the other's parents. Then to finalize the marriage, it involves the matchmaker tying the groom's cape to the bride's skirt and the groom's mother would give the bride and groom each four mouthfuls of tamales. This showed that they were now married.
Four days of feasting followed the ceremony. During these four days, friends and family would lecture the new couple. The bride was told to trust her husband, take care of him and obey him. The groom was told to be hardworking, thoughtful of his bride and to be selfless and think of his bride and his family before himself.
On the fifth day, the pair was bathed and dressed. The bride had white feathers on her head and colourful feathers on her arms and legs. They would both be blessed four times with water and then four times with beer. Their marriage was now final. Then everybody celebrated and feasted together.
Afterwards, the married couple will build their house. Unmarried people always live in their parent's house.
Parents arranged marriages between their children. Girls were normally married in their teens. Once a suitable bride was found, the parents would have a professional matchmaker (ahatanzah) who would propose for the boy's family. The parents of the young woman would then tell the matchmaker whether or not they accept the proposal. Once the proposal was accepted, preparations for the wedding ceremony and the feast began. It takes a long time. The family and friends decide on a "lucky" day, gathered cacao, pipes for smoking, flowers and made tamales and a beer made from cactus and honey. The marriage celebration would last for five days and the wedding will take place on the first day.
On the wedding day, the bride would be bathed by her female friends and relatives and be decorated with red feathers on her arms and legs. Her face would be painted in a red paste containing small shimmering crystals. Then the eldest female relative carried the bride on her back to the groom's house for the wedding.
The ceremony would take place at the groom's parent's house. A fire would be lit in the hearth and incense would be burned as an offering to the gods. The groom's parents would give presents to the bride's parents such as robes and mantles. The bride and the groom would also receive a gift of new clothes from the other's parents. Then to finalize the marriage, it involves the matchmaker tying the groom's cape to the bride's skirt and the groom's mother would give the bride and groom each four mouthfuls of tamales. This showed that they were now married.
Four days of feasting followed the ceremony. During these four days, friends and family would lecture the new couple. The bride was told to trust her husband, take care of him and obey him. The groom was told to be hardworking, thoughtful of his bride and to be selfless and think of his bride and his family before himself.
On the fifth day, the pair was bathed and dressed. The bride had white feathers on her head and colourful feathers on her arms and legs. They would both be blessed four times with water and then four times with beer. Their marriage was now final. Then everybody celebrated and feasted together.
Afterwards, the married couple will build their house. Unmarried people always live in their parent's house.
Afterlife
The Aztecs believed that were was a number of levels in heaven and hell, 13 levels of heaven and 9 levels of hell. The afterlife of a Aztec person depended mostly on how they died. Some that were sacrificed to gods would join the battle against the darkness. Others would eventually be revived as bird, butterflies or even humans. Some became ghosts and roamed the earth. But at some point, the dead would have to make the long journey through the 9 levels of hell in order to reach heaven. In order to help them with their journey, the deceased were buried with all their belongings as well as items that would help them through their journey. The deceased would be buried in a squatting position or were cremated. The Aztecs also believed that how the dead died mattered more than how they lived their lives. For instance, a warrior that died in battle or a woman that died during childbirth would go straight to the top level of heaven. But a person that drowned or died of natural causes would have to go through the entire 9 levels of hell in order to get to heaven.