Controversial Ceremony for the Reception of a Mexica Codex

The reception of a Mexica codex in **France** has generated controversy due to a ceremony interpreted as "new age," which evokes Aztec rituals, yet does not align with historical practices.

A centuries-old Mexica codex, bound like a book and inscribed with Latin letters dating from the colonial era, has been loaned by **France** for exhibition in **Mexico**. However, the event has been overshadowed by the peculiar inauguration ceremony.

## An Untraditional Reception

The exhibition peine with a ceremony described as "new age," during which some women performed gestures evoking Aztec deities. This is not the first time similar practices have been observed at public events, such as during the inauguration of the Judicial Branch, where **Quetzalcóatl** was invoked.

## Historical Rituals vs. Modern Reinterpretations

The representations of Mexica rituals viewed differ from documented historical practices. According to records, ancient Mexica ceremonies typically involved offerings and sacrifices, such as the sacrifice of a child for **Tláloc** or the extraction of a heart for **Huitzilopochtli**, aimed at ensuring rain or the rising of the sun, respectively.

## Cultural Context and Secularism

These types of ceremonies have drawn commentary, especially regarding their contrast with the strict observance of secularism in official acts, such as those applied in **Mexico** under the administration of **Claudia Sheinbaum**. The approach to symbols and rituals of indigenous cultures in public settings remains a subject of debate.