Tamales were used as a ritual offering
Print Collector/Getty Images
The way the Los Angeles Times explains it, tamales were a staple food in pre-Columbian days, long before Christmas, or even Christianity, came to Mesoamerica. Hieroglyphic depictions of tamaladas have been found dating from Olmec and Toltec times, and the word “tamal” actually comes from one of the languages spoken by the Aztec peoples. Tamales were originally valued for their portability, being the kind of thing you could take with you on a journey; but they were (and still are) something eaten daily. Nevertheless, tamales also had a special significance due to the fact that they are made with corn meal, and corn was seen as the staff of life. Some creation myths even stated that humans were formed by the gods out of corn.
One major Aztec religious celebration was the winter solstice festival Panquetzaliztli (via Edible Manhattan). As a part of the festivities, human captives were sacrificed to the sun god. The sacrifices were also used to make pozole, which was eaten by priests, warriors, and other influential citizens. When the conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they sought to end many indigenous customs in an attempt to obliderate the culture. One practice they disallowed was human sacrifice, so the Aztec people began using tamales for the ritual offering instead. When their descendants converted to Christianity, they retained the custom of eating tamales (and pozole) in December, and many still do to this day.
Christmas Tamales Have A Surprisingly Dark Backstory
By Maria Scinto/Dec. 20, 2021 1:29 pm EST
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Tamales were used as a ritual offering
Print Collector/Getty Images
The way the Los Angeles Times explains it, tamales were a staple food in pre-Columbian days, long before Christmas, or even Christianity, came to Mesoamerica. Hieroglyphic depictions of tamaladas have been found dating from Olmec and Toltec times, and the word “tamal” actually comes from one of the languages spoken by the Aztec peoples. Tamales were originally valued for their portability, being the kind of thing you could take with you on a journey; but they were (and still are) something eaten daily. Nevertheless, tamales also had a special significance due to the fact that they are made with corn meal, and corn was seen as the staff of life. Some creation myths even stated that humans were formed by the gods out of corn.
One major Aztec religious celebration was the winter solstice festival Panquetzaliztli (via Edible Manhattan). As a part of the festivities, human captives were sacrificed to the sun god. The sacrifices were also used to make pozole, which was eaten by priests, warriors, and other influential citizens. When the conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they sought to end many indigenous customs in an attempt to obliderate the culture. One practice they disallowed was human sacrifice, so the Aztec people began using tamales for the ritual offering instead. When their descendants converted to Christianity, they retained the custom of eating tamales (and pozole) in December, and many still do to this day.
One major Aztec religious celebration was the winter solstice festival Panquetzaliztli (via Edible Manhattan). As a part of the festivities, human captives were sacrificed to the sun god. The sacrifices were also used to make pozole, which was eaten by priests, warriors, and other influential citizens. When the conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they sought to end many indigenous customs in an attempt to obliderate the culture. One practice they disallowed was human sacrifice, so the Aztec people began using tamales for the ritual offering instead. When their descendants converted to Christianity, they retained the custom of eating tamales (and pozole) in December, and many still do to this day.
