Editing Xiuhtecuhtli (section)

==Annual festival==

The annual festival of Xiuhtecuhtli was celebrated in ''Izcalli'', the 18th [[veintena]] of the year.<ref name="ReferenceA">López Austin 1998, p.10. Sahagún 1577, 1989, p.47 (Book I, Chapter XIII).</ref> The Nahuatl word izcalli means "stone house" and refers to the building where maize used to be dried and roasted between mid-January and mid-February. The whole month was therefore devoted to fire.<ref name="Roy 2005, p.211" /> The Izcalli rituals grew in importance every four years.<ref>Luján 2005, p.143.</ref> A framework image of the deity was constructed from wood and was richly finished with clothing, feathers and an elaborate mask.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> Quails were sacrificed to the idol and their blood spilt before it and [[copal]] was burnt in his honour.<ref>Sahagún 1577, 1989, p.47 (Book I, Chapter XIII).</ref> On the day of the festival, the priests of Xiuhtecuhtli spent the day dancing and singing before their god.<ref>Sahagún 1577, 1989, p.48 (Book I, Chapter XIII).</ref> People caught animals, including mammals, birds, snakes, lizards and fish, for ten days before the festival in order to throw them into the hearth on the night of the festival.<ref name="ReferenceB">López Austin 1998, p.10. Sahagún 1577, 1989, p.48 (Book I, Chapter XIII).</ref> On the tenth day of Izcalli, during a festival called ''huauhquiltamalcualiztli'' ("eating of the amaranth leaf tamales"), the New Fire was lighted, signifying the change of the annual cycle and the rebirth of the fire deity.<ref>Luján 2005, p.142.</ref> During the night the image of the god was lit with using the ''mamalhuatzin''.<ref>López Austin 1998, p.10.</ref> Food was consumed ritually, including shrimp [[tamale]]s, after first offering it to the god.<ref name="ReferenceB" />

[[Image:Xiuhtecuhtli, Codex Borgia, 14, w rubber balls offering.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Xiuhtecuhtli in his role as one of the lords of the night, from the [[Codex Borgia]].<ref>Díaz & Rodgers 1993, pp.xix, 64.</ref>]] 
Every four years a more solemn version of the festival was held at the temple of Xiuhtecuhtli in [[Tenochtitlan]], attended by the emperor and his nobles.<ref name="ReferenceC">Sahagún 1577, 1989, pp.48-9 (Book I, Chapter XIII).</ref> Slaves and captives were dressed as the deity and sacrificed in his honour.<ref>López Austin 1998, p.10. Sahagún 1577, 1989, p.98 (Book II, Chapter XVIII).</ref> Godparents were assigned to children on this day and the children had their ears ritually pierced. After this, the children, their parents and godparents all shared a meal together.<ref name="ReferenceC" />