An offering, a fire, a prayer. How a Mexico City community celebrates its pre-Hispanic origins
A couple of decades ago, when Claudia Santos felt the need for spiritual shelter, she dug into her countries’ history and there she found it: Her ancestors, the Mexica
By MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ
Published - Aug 14, 2024, 12:52 PM ET
Last Updated - Aug 14, 2024, 12:52 PM EDT
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Claudia Santos’ spiritual journey has left a mark on her skin.
Soon after the 50-year-old embraced her pre-Hispanic heritage and pledged to speak for her ancestors’ worldview in Mexico City, she tattooed the symbol “Ollin” — which translates from the Nahuatl language as “movement” — on her wrist.
“It’s an imprint from my Nahuatl name,” said Santos, wearing white with feathers hanging from her neck. She was dressed to perform an ancestral Mexica ceremony on Tuesday in the neighborhood of Tepito.
“It’s an insignia that represents me, my identity.”
