Editing Huehueteotl (section)

==Worship==
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2021}}
The [[Florentine Codex]]<ref>in Clendinnen, Aztecs, Cambridge UP 1991: 247</ref> describes an Aztec religious observance during the monthly feast of [[Izcalli]] (dedicated to Xiuhtecuhtli and Tlaloc), when boys had to hunt in the swamps for small water-related animals, such as snakes, lizards, frogs and even dragonfly larvae, and present these to elders serving as the guardians of the fire deity. As a reward for the offerings, the priest would give them steamed corn dough (tamales) stuffed with amaranth greens. At this occasion the god was represented as young with [[turquoise]] and [[quetzal]] feathers for ceremonial purposes. Later during the month he appeared as aging and tired, covered with the colours of gold, black and red. Perhaps this transformation of young into old can explain the fact that in the codices, Xiuhtecuhtli appears as a vigorous young man, whereas his representations in stone show him to be aged and decrepit.

In another, more dramatic, and better known celebration, the Aztecs cut out the hearts of human sacrifices and burned them on coal. As a result of this, the people would regain Huehueteotl's favour through the god's elements — [[fire]] and [[blood]].