Mexican Ceremonial Flowers A

Edelmira Linares* Robert Bye** XDOIOD

lowers have always had a November. Appreciated for its flower's ceremonial importance in bright colors, the orchid is often Mexican tradition. In pre- grown in family orchards, generally Hispanic times they were thriving when placed on oak branch- Fused to praise rulers and important es, and its flowers are used to decorate persons, to honor the gods and to the home. establish contact with the under- Cempasúchiles, or marigolds, very world. There were special rules for popular all over the world in floral [1] smelling them, and or other arrangements, are strongly associated harm could come of not following in with the festivities of the them correctly. Only certain persons daceae, or the iris family. Its flowers Day of the Dead. Their scientific of rank were allowed to have flowers, have been used by ethnic groups to name is erecta and they belong and in some cases they were used to make wreaths and other decorations; to the family . attract a loved one. its bulb is edible and is used to reduce Every year cempasúchiles are placed Today many of the flowers used in fevers. The blossoms, which last only on altars dedicated to the dead, in ancient times are still utilized in cere- one day, were used to adorn the altars homes and , which is why monies, some of which are based upon of pre-Hispanic gods, a custom that Mexicans associate the flower and its indigenous traditions. continues today, as the flor de tigre is a scent with graveyards. But the mari- The tiger flower is known as flor de common ornament on altars in peo- gold is used as a medicinal plant to tigre, oceloxóchith cocomite, flor de un ple's homes. treat stomach inflammation and is día, achelele, jahuique and trinitaria, The orchid Laelia autumnalis is recommended for controling . among other common names. Its sci- known as the lily, the flower of the It was also used in ceremonies to mark entific name is Ti gridia pavonia and dead, lily of All Saints and sandiegui- the 11 th month, Ochpanixtli, when a it belongs to the botanical family iri- tos and is called tzacuxochitl in woman was sacrificed to the gods. . As its common name indi- Young boys danced every day for a * Head of the Department of Education and cates, it is used to decorate altars both week before the actual ceremony. Public Information of the Botanical Garden in homes and churches on All Saints Then women acted out a battle, dur- of UNAM Institute of Biology. ** Director of UNAM Botanical Garden. Day and the Day of the Dead in early ing which they threw bouquets of

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Every year marigolds before the woman to be late recipes and they are still used sacrificed, whom they considered an —both fresh and dried— in reme- cempasúchiles image of the gods. The women acted dies for heart ailments as they are con- out this scene so the victim would sidered "cordial" or temperate. The are placed on every not feel despondent, because if she fresh, strongly perfumed flowers are were sad then many women would used in floral arrangements and mixed altar consecrated to die in childbirth and many men in into wreaths into church and home the dead in homes battle. altars. Magnolias such as Magnolia gran- The mayflower, flor de mayo, caca- and cemeteries, which diflora of the Magnoliaceae have losúchiZ nicté and flor de cuervo, was always been greatly admired for their also used by the ancient Mexicans in is why Mexicans beautiful shape and delicious per- their ceremonies. Its scientific name fume. In Nahuatl it was called eloxo- is Plumeria rubra and it belongs to associate the flower chitl as its blossom resembles a corn the family Apocynaceae. Its flowers are cob (elote, corn cob; xochitb flower). pink, , white or crimson. The and its scent with The king offered these flowers to king would offer garlands made with Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. The this flower to the god of war and also graveyards. bracts were used to choco- to important persons. Even today in EcoLOGY

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the states of Mexico and [1] A string of cacalosúchil flowers from Ozum- ba, Mexico, used to decorate crosses on these flowers are placed by masons on mason's day.

crosses put up on construction sites [2] This magnolia is known in Nahuatl as on May 3. 1 In Chalma, State of Mex- eloxochitl, because its flower resembles a corn cob. ico, the flor de mayo is used to deco- [3] Cacalosúchil. rate wreaths sold to visitors entering [4] A mixture of used to heal heart dis- the church, and to decorate the church ease, including magnolias.

itself. In Yucatán maidens would use [5] Magnolia. the flower to captivate their loved ones, 191 [6] The flowers of cacalosúchil are greatly as this flower has long been associated appreciated for their rich colors and perfume.

with gods and rituals of love. In May [7] The flor de tigre is so named because its center has a pattern of lines and colors like the young girls dressed in white make stripes of a tiger. offerings of the flower to the Virgin [8] Marigolds are grown in Mexico to harvest Mary. M at the end of October for the festivities of the Day of the Dead.

[9] The cempasúchil is the main flower used in offerings on altars and on tombs in cemeteries Day of the Holy Cross or masoris day. Cons- in central Mexico. truction workers celebrate with a party at their [10] Flowers were offered to important per- work sites, where they erect a cross and decorate sons as a sign of respect. Illustration from the it with flowers in a ceremony to bless the site. Florentine Codex.

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