Tonantzin

Background

Tonantzin (Classical Nahuatl: Tonāntzin) is composed of to- 'our' + nān 'mother' + -tzin '(honorific suffix)'. When addressing Tonantzin directly, men use the suffixed vocative form Tonāntziné, and women use the unsuffixed vocative form Tonāntzín. Such goddesses as Mother Earth, Goddess of Sustenance, Honored Grandmother, Snake, Bringer of Maize, and Mother of Corn can all be called Tonantzin, as it is an honorific title comparable to 'Our Lady' or 'Our Great Mother.' Other indigenous (Nahuatl) names include Chicōmexōchitl (literally 'Seven Flower') and Chālchiuhcihuātl (literally 'Emerald/Jade Woman'). A Tonāntzin was honored during the movable feast of Xōchilhuitl.

Aspects

Tonantzin is a title of honor, similar to “Our Lady” or “Our Great Mother,” used for goddesses including Mother Earth, Goddess of Sustenance, Honored Grandmother, Snake, Bringer of Maize, and Mother of Corn. Other Nahuatl names for such figures are Chicōmexōchitl (Seven Flower) and Chālchiuhcihuātl (Emerald or Jade Woman). A Tonāntzin was celebrated during the movable feast of Xōchilhuitl. Some say that when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared at Tepeyac hill—where Spanish priests had destroyed Tonantzin’s temple—the native people recognized her as Tonantzin Coatlaxopeuh.

Alleged syncretism

Mexico City's 17th-century Basilica of Guadalupe was built at the base of the hill of Tepeyac. The 16th-century Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún wrote in his Florentine Codex that Indians traveled to Tepeyac to worship Tonantzin. Rosemary Radford Ruether noted that Sahagún's protests have been understood to mean an Aztec goddess named Tonantzin had a temple there, but this has been questioned; Tonantzin was a title for the maternal aspect of any Aztec goddess, not a specific goddess, and when used as a title for Mary, the maternal aspect could be read into the Spanish Marian cult by Nahua Christians.

José de Villerías y Roelas said she was the daughter of Pluto and Proserpina. Gloria E. Anzaldúa noted that 'lopeuh' means 'the one who is at one with the beasts' and 'coatl' means serpent; in the apparition story, Guadalupe told Juan Diego her name was 'María Coatlalopeuh,' equating to 'the one who is at one with the beasts.'

Modern usage

Tonantzin is sometimes used as a female given name; Native Californian actress Tonantzin Carmelo is an example. Possible nicknames include Tona, Tonzi, Toni, Nantzin, and Nancy. Tonantzín (with an accent on the final syllable) plays an inspirational role in Sandra Cisneros's short story 'Little Miracles, Kept Promises.' In the comic series Love and Rockets, Tonantzin is the name of a central character in Gilbert Hernandez's world of Palomar, often linked to the Aztec goddess.