Local indigenous group Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin celebrated their 14^th anniversary with a two-day event surrounded by other Kalpulli members from across Texas and Mexico. The groups’ gatherings incorporated traditions dating back to Aztec (Mexica) celebrations.

The events began April 4 with a traditional sacred sweat lodge known as temazcal, which originated with the indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica. The term temazcal originates from the Nahuatl language from the words teme (to bathe) and calli (house), or from the word temazcalli (house of heat).

As each member arrived, they placed a lava rock on a mount that heats the stones until they are blood red. Once the rocks were ready, the ceremony began. As each member entered the temazcal, they placed their forehead against the entrance of the dome-like structure. The fire holder, who maintains the stones as well as controls the fire, used a pitchfork-like tool to carry a burning stone to a captain inside the temazcal. Each member repeated a sacred chant as the burning stone entered the structure, and each stone was placed into a fire pit dug in the center. Once one set of stones were brought it, the ceremony began and ended with the entrance is opened to release the steam. The ceremony is repeated for times with fresh stones to the four corners, representing the four cardinal directions, north, south, east, west.

“It’s not about who can withstand the heat, it’s getting from the ceremony what you need,” explained a ‘Tribal Elder’, who wishes to be known as such.

As the temazcal ceremony ended, each member is gathered for some pazole, a Mexican dish that dates back to the Aztecs of pre-Hispanic Mexico. According to the Mazatlán Post, its originated as a sacred offering to the Aztec god Xipe Totec in the hopes of good harvest.

The following day Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin, which translates to Venerable Butterfly of the Wind, welcomed more arrivals who helped set up the celebratory altar to commemorate the four corners.

The captains of each tribe spoke the traditional words of appreciation and respect as they opened each corner with a prayer to the north, south, west, east Aztec diety.

Once the four corners were opened, the ceremony began, welcoming each tribe and its members with Mexica traditional danza to celebrate Ehekatl Papalotzin.

As the ceremony came to a close, each captain and ranked leader spoke in thanks to the Ehekatl Papalotzin captain, Aldaberto Zanes, for his hospitality and his nobility to keeping up with its traditions.