Huichol Art
The Celebration of the Maize
Huichol Item 288
$725.
2ft. x 2ft.
Hand-twisted yarn, archival wax on board.
2006
Maize Fiesta
These events take place at the residential compound of the participants. The Maize Fiesta is celebrated every year when the first ears of corn begin to mature. The date for this fiesta comes to the shaman via his dreams. Note: The Fiesta del Elote takes place once all of the mature and dry corn has been harvested. Above, we see a sacrificial ram and cow tethered to corn stalks. This union between animal and corn plant is only symbolic of the reason for the sacrifices; offering thanks to the Maize deity for the years crops. In reality, the animals would be tied to something more secure, such as a post. Brightly-colored butterflies abound. It is the rainy season now in Nayarit and Jalisco states where the majority of the Huichol live. A seated shaman faces the fire holding a candle and muvieri in his out-stretched arms. The fire represents the deity Tatei Wari, who must always be present during these celebrations. Tatei Wari means Grandfather Fire in Huichol. The shaman sings and prays, offering gratitude to the Maize Deity as the sacrifices are being carried out. Behind the shaman is a domesticated turkey. The shaman consumes peyote for this event, depicted at the upper-left. Footprints throughout the painting mark the path that the participants have taken for the rituals to be complete. Other personal items belonging to the shaman include his feathered hat, a gourd filled with tobacco and his tacuatzi. The tacuatzi is the rectangular box where the shaman keeps his religious paraphernalia such as peyote, prayer arrows, muvieri and deer body parts. On the far left is a participant vomiting after consuming too much teguino, a mildly alcoholic beverage made out of fermented ground maize. Upper-left: A cow leg from the sacrifice, a basket of fruit and a bottleneck gourd filled with teguino will be given to the shaman as a form of payment and thanks for presiding over this fiesta. He will receive these the following day. In the center is the ririki or calihuey. This sacred building houses items used for the ceremonies, when not in use. Objects receiving a blood-blessing are also stored here. The shaman, however keeps his tacuatzi at his home. Stored inside the ririki can be found maize, a deer head, candles - both lit and not, vessels containing sacred water, prayer arrows, rattles, god's eyes and a ceremonial old man's cane. Many of these objects are miniaturized versions which have received blood and will later be taken to the sacred places. Below, a woman cooks teguino throughout the night before the fiesta. Candles light her workplace. Rocks hold the pot above the fire. Behind the cook are vessels deer soup, fish "catfish" soup, tamales and teguino. She prepares these throughout the night. The Fiesta del Maize is a full day event beginning early in the morning. During the nighttime, the two serpents come to observe the activity. On the lower left is the sacrificed cow. The blood flowing onto a candle and arrow symbolize that these and other objects will be blessed with it's blood. However, in reality, these objects will be placed upon the dead animals side before receiving the blood blessing by the shaman, as the three candles are displayed. The shaman will dip his finger into the blood and touch each object to receive the blessing. Around the cow are other objects that will receive the blood including the miniaturized version of a cane and a full sized bowl with maize. This bowl is always returned to the ririki. Note: God's eyes, tacuatzi, equipals "a traditional form of Huichol chair" and rattles never receive blood offerings. The pink bag with arrow symbolizes that all of the miniaturized objects that have been blessed blood will be placed into this bag and stored in the calihuey until they are later taken for depositing at some sacred place. The two tracks facing the woman signify her movement and industry. Note: There is always a lit candle placed in the ririki at nighttime. This is so that the spirits who come to visit and eat during the nighttime can see.
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