---
title: The Aztec New Fire Ceremony
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/866/the-aztec-new-fire-ceremony/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-11-22
---
# The Aztec New Fire Ceremony
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
The New Fire Ceremony, also known as the Binding of the Years Ceremony, was a ritual held every 52 years in the month of November on the completion of a full cycle of the [Aztec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) solar year (*xiuhmopilli*). The purpose of it was none other than to renew the sun and ensure another 52-year cycle. The New Fire Ceremony, or *Toxhiuhmolpilia*, as the Aztecs themselves called it, was by far the most important event in the religious calendar because, quite simply, if the ceremony failed, then the [Aztec civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) would end.
[  Throne of Motecuhzoma, Detail Mary Ann Sullivan (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2269/throne-of-motecuhzoma-detail/ "Throne of Motecuhzoma, Detail")### The Solar Calendar
The timing of the ceremony and the number 52 were significant as this was the exact coinciding point of the first days of the two Aztec calendars which were then in simultaneous use: the ancient Mesoamerican and sacred *tonalpohualli* 260-day cycle and the *xiuhpohualli*, the Aztec 365-day solar and ceremonial calendar. In addition, every second cycle (104 years) was given even more significance as on that precise date the *tonalpohualli* coincided with the 52-year cycle. The Aztecs saw such time cycles as a mirror of the ancient cosmic cycles which, in Aztec [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/), had created the world. The historian Jacques Soustelle describes well the reason a ritual like the New Fire Ceremony was of such concern to the Aztecs,
> At bottom the ancient Mexicans had no real confidence in the future, their fragile world was perpetually at the mercy of some disaster: there were not only the natural cataclysms and the famines, but more than that, on certain nights the monstrous divinities of the west appeared at the crossroads, and there were the wizards, those dark envoys from a mysterious world, and every fifty-two years there was the [great fear](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Fear/) that fell upon all the nations of the [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) when the sun set on the last day of the 'century' and no man could tell whether it would ever rise again (114).
[  Mask of Xiuhtecuhtli Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2234/mask-of-xiuhtecuhtli/ "Mask of Xiuhtecuhtli")### [Xiuhtecuhtli](https://www.worldhistory.org/Xiuhtecuhtli/) [God](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) of Fire
The ceremony was overseen by Xiuhtecuhtli, also known as the 'Turquoise Lord', the Aztec god of fire. His name reveals not only his association with turquoise but also with Time, as *xiuhitl* in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, meant both 'turquoise' and 'year'. Fire, as with many other ancient cultures, was considered a fundamental element of the universe, present in all things. Xiuhtecuhtli's pillar of fire was believed to run right through the cosmos from Mictlan, the Underworld, to Topan, the Heavens. The association between the sun and fire is made in Aztec mythology with the self-sacrifice of the gods Nanahuatzin and Tecuciztecatl who threw themselves into a fire at [Teotihuacan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Teotihuacan/) in order to produce the Sun and Moon respectively. As we shall see, in the New Fire Ceremony one particular fire was essential to the success of ensuring the return of the life-giving sun.
### Preparation For The Ceremony
Preparation for the ceremony began with the extinguishing of all fires of any kind, from temples to household hearths - the latter being especially associated with Xiuhtecuhtli. Next, a thorough cleaning operation was undertaken with the streets being swept, old hearth stones were thrown away along with old cooking utensils, old clothes too, and even idols were ceremoniously washed and cleansed. Another ritual was to tie bundles of 52 reeds together, creating a symbolic *xiuhmopilli*. Pregnant [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/) were locked in granaries and their faces were painted blue in the belief that they would not then turn into monsters during the night. Children also had their faces painted and were kept from sleeping to prevent them turning into mice. Finally, as darkness fell, the populace stopped all activities, climbed the roofs of their homes and waited with a hushed silence and bated breath for what was to come.
### The Ceremony
Then, just outside the Aztec capital of [Tenochtitlan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tenochtitlan/), high priests gathered at the summit of the sacred volcanic mountain south-east of Lake [Tetzcoco](https://www.worldhistory.org/Texcoco/), Mt. Uixachtecatl (also referred to as Huixachtlan or Citlaltepec and meaning 'thorn tree place', even if it is now called 'Hill of the Star'). The priests were magnificently dressed as the gods with fine cloaks, masks, and feather headdresses and led by the figure of [Quetzalcoatl](https://www.worldhistory.org/Quetzalcoatl/). Here, on a platform visible to the whole [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) below, the priests waited until midnight and a precise alignment of the stars which would signal the ceremony could begin. When the *Tianquiztli* (the Pleiades) reached their zenith and the *Yohualtecuhtli* star shone brightly in the very centre of the night sky, this was the moment a human sacrifice was made. The High Priest, probably dressed as Xuihtecuhtli and wearing a turquoise mask, cut out the heart from the living victim and a fire was kindled in the empty chest cavity using the sacred firestick drill, the *tlequauitl*. If the fire burned brightly, then all was well and Xiuhtecuhtli had blessed the people with another sun. If the fire did not catch, then the *Tzitzimime* would come without pity. These terrible monsters, armed with wickedly sharp knives, would roam the dark and sunless earth slashing and eating all humanity without exception. The world would end.
Fortunately, this terrible tragedy never occurred, and after each ceremony, when the fire burned well within the victim's chest, the flame was used to light a huge pyre so that all could see the success of the ceremony in the city below. Then the flames were transferred to Tenochtitlan where they were used to light the fire at the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of [Huitzilopochtli](https://www.worldhistory.org/Huitzilopochtli/) on top of the [Templo Mayor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Templo_Mayor/) [pyramid](https://www.worldhistory.org/pyramid/). Next, the fire at the city's [Fire Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/Fire_Temple/) was lit and from there, runners ensured that all the fires of the city were, once again, lit.
[  Aztec New Fire Ceremony Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4554/aztec-new-fire-ceremony/ "Aztec New Fire Ceremony")Following the successful ceremony, hearth stones were renewed and offered incense and quails in thanks. Then, after a suitably pious morning of fasting, there was, understandably, a great deal of partying. The revellers wore new clothes, feasted on amaranth-seed and honey cakes, and drank *[pulque](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pulque/)* [beer](https://www.worldhistory.org/Beer/). A little later, Aztec rulers, buoyed by this divine endorsement of their rule, would embark on a series of state building projects such as [Motecuhzoma](https://www.worldhistory.org/Montezuma/) I did in 1455 CE when he greatly enlarged the Templo Mayor at Tenochtitlan.
The New Fire Ceremony was successfully held in 1351, 1403, 1455, and again in 1507 CE. Curiously, although perhaps indicative of the belief that each cycle was a new beginning, the Aztecs did not specifically date different 52-year cycles. The calendar, as it were, was each time reset to zero. The last New Fire Ceremony, then, ushered in the 5th sun of the Aztec era, poignantly the last according to Aztec mythology and, with the arrival of the European invaders, so it turned out to be.
### The New Fire Ceremony in Art
The New Fire Ceremony is referred to in various instances of Aztec and colonial art. Stone sculptures representing the *xiuhmopilli* bundles have been excavated at Tenochtitlan, each with a date stamp [hieroglyph](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/hieroglyph/) of the year they were produced. The ceremony of relighting the fires at Tenochtitlan is represented in an illustration in the *Codex Borbonicus* (Sheet 34), c. 1525 CE. Priests carry bundles to transfer the fire and they wear turquoise masks, as do other citizens, including women and children. Also included is an image of [Montezuma](https://www.worldhistory.org/Montezuma/) (aka [Motecuhzoma II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Montezuma/)), the Aztec ruler who presided over that final ceremony in 1507 CE.
[  Throne of Motecuhzoma II Wolfgang Sauber (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2261/throne-of-motecuhzoma-ii/ "Throne of Motecuhzoma II")One of the most famous of all Aztec artworks is the turquoise [mosaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mosaic/) [mask of Xiuhtecuhtli](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/641/the-mask-of-xiuhtecuhtli/) now in the British Museum. Perhaps similar to the masks worn by the High Priests in the Fire ceremony it has conch shell eyes and dates to the 14th century CE. Finally, the celebrated Throne of Motecuhzoma II was specifically sculpted to commemorate the New Fire Ceremony of 1507 CE. The throne has date glyphs carved on the front, a depiction of Xiuhtecuhtli and other gods at the sides, and the seat back carries a large sun disk.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored article has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2016, February 17). The Aztec New Fire Ceremony. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "The Aztec New Fire Ceremony." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 17, 2016. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "The Aztec New Fire Ceremony." *World History Encyclopedia*, 17 Feb 2016, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 17 February 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.