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When Aztecs wanted to kick back and unwind, they danced, sang, ate, and drank. They also played sports. Nobles would throw huge banquets.
Even the poor were part of the many festivals held to celebrate happy times. Special events in Aztec life included the opening of a new temple and welcoming warriors back from a victory. They also included the death of a ruler or the rise of a new one. Aside from religious rituals, there were other important ceremonies. These included the birth and naming of a baby, entering and leaving school, marriage, and death.
Athletes wore padding made from deerskin on their arms and thighs to protect them from the solid rubber ball. They also wore helmets and deerskin gloves. But they could still get hurt or even killed when the ball hit them. ▶
◀ Players fought hard in the ball game called tlachtli (TLACH-tlee). People liked gambling on the outcome. They bet everything from precious stones to clothing and feathers. They even bet houses, land, and slaves.
◀ In tlachtli, each team tried to knock a hard rubber ball into a small doughnut-shaped hoop in the middle of the ball court. They made the ball with tree sap. For most of the game, players hit the ball back and forth to each other. They could use any part of their bodies except their hands. The team that hit the ball through the hoop won. Crowds didn’t eat hot dogs back then, but they did come out to cheer and bet on the games.
Rich nobles enjoyed another gambling game. Patolli was a lot like the game of Parcheesi. It was played with pebbles on a game board or mat. As dice, players used four dried beans marked with white dots for numbers. People took turns throwing the beans to move six pebbles on the board. A player could gamble away his shirt, his home, or even himself into slavery! ▶
▲ Girls got married as young as 12 years old, and boys would be around 18. A match-maker helped families pick partners for their children. Weddings took place at night. The bride’s blouse was tied to her husband’s cloak as a sign of their marriage.
Every band needs a backbeat. These drummers keep time for dancers while other musicians shake rattles made from gourds. Some religious ceremonies brought out the whole village. Everyone, including the commoners, feasted, danced, sang, and made offerings. They also watched parades and processions. ▼
◀ Aztecs put on makeup when they celebrated. They’d stain their teeth red or black. Men and women used these stamps to apply face paint for festivals. They dripped the paint onto the stamp, and then pressed the design onto their cheek.
Music was often played during religious festivals and on special occasions like weddings. Priests beat large drums (right), played clay flutes, and blew conch shells. They also played the ocarina. That’s an ancient woodwind instrument shaped like a turtle. ▶
◀ Everyone needed to know the dances performed at religious festivals. This whistle helped dancers mark time. Some boys and girls were specially trained as professional dancers.
