Childhood in Mexica society was divided into several stages, each with its own rituals and obligations. The Mexica placed great emphasis on the upbringing of children, and the family was the principal institution for the care and training of the young. The birth of a child was a major event, marked by a series of rituals that began before birth and continued through early childhood, and the raising of children was a major preoccupation of Mexica society.
The Stages of Childhood
The Mexica divided childhood into several stages, each with its own rituals and obligations. The first stage, infancy, lasted until the child was weaned, typically at about two or three years of age. During this period, the child was cared for by the mother and the other women of the household. The second stage, early childhood, lasted until the child was about seven years old, and it was a period of play, of learning, and of light work around the household.
The third stage, late childhood, lasted until the child reached puberty, and it was a period of more serious work and of formal education. The boys of this age were expected to help with the work of the household, and they were introduced to the basics of the military and the agriculture. The girls of this age were expected to help with the household work, and they were introduced to the basics of the cuisine and the weaving.
The Rituals of Infancy
The birth of a child was marked by a series of elaborate rituals that began before birth and continued through early childhood. The Mexica held that the day of birth shaped much of a person’s destiny. The Tonalpohualli was consulted when birth to choose the child’s name and to determine which protective rituals the family needed to perform.
The rituals of infancy included the cutting of the umbilical cord, the washing of the child, the binding of the cradle, and the presentation of the child to the gods. The Mexica also performed a series of protective rituals to safeguard the child from the influence of evil spirits and from the malevolence of witches. The rituals were performed by the midwife, who was a religious specialist with special training in the care of women in childbirth.
The Training of the Young
The Mexica placed great emphasis on the training of the young, and the upbringing of children was a major preoccupation of Mexica society. The Mexica believed that the training of the young was essential for the survival of the state, and they developed a sophisticated system of formal education that included both the calmecac for the sons of the nobles and the telpochcalli for the sons of the commoners.
The Mexica also placed great emphasis on the moral education of the young, and they used a wide range of proverbs, songs, and stories to teach the children the values of Mexica life. The Mexica believed that the proper upbringing of the young was essential for the maintenance of the social order, and they used a variety of techniques, including praise, scolding, and physical punishment, to correct the behavior of the children.
The Survival of Mexica Childhood
Many elements of Mexica childhood have survived in the traditional Mexican family. The basic stages of childhood, the rituals of infancy, the training of the young, and the importance of the family are all elements of the Mexica tradition that have survived in modified form in Mexican culture. The traditional Mexican family, with its emphasis on the extended family, on the authority of the parents, and on the importance of religious observance, is in many respects a continuation of Mexica patterns.
The Mexican celebration of the Day of the Children, which is celebrated on April 30, has its roots in the Mexica tradition of the importance of children in the religious and social life. The Mexican tradition of giving children a particular day of the calendar is also a continuation of the Mexica tradition of the tonalli, the personal day sign that was believed to determine much of a person’s destiny.
Related Articles
- Family Life and Childhood in the Aztec World — the broader context
- What was the role of midwives in Aztec births? — the ticitl
- How did Aztec names and naming ceremonies work? — the naming rituals
- Education in Aztec Civilization — the formal training
- Social Classes and Structure in Aztec Society — the social context
- Aztec Society and Daily Life — the broader context