Hundreds of people gathered at the Archaeological Zone of Tula to welcome the Winter Solstice with pre-Hispanic rituals and dances, this Sunday, December 22.
According to the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), the event that marks the beginning of the winter season in Mexico this 2024, occurred in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at 3:20 a.m. Central Time, however, many chose to welcome it until this Sunday.
Winter Solstice: Why it is the longest night of 2024
It officially marks the beginning of winter, the coldest season.
The activities around the astronomical event were held on the esplanade of the monument area, in the squares and in the buildings, including Building B, which houses the Atlantes. There, people came to practice yoga, who greeted the Sun, such is the case of Gabriela Toscano, a visitor from Mexico City who came to “charge herself with energy” and “good vibes,” as she says that pre-Hispanic sites have a special aura “because ancient Mexicans had great knowledge about astronomy.”
Traditions and customs cause great expectations among visitors
It should be noted that various rituals were also carried out at the site that seek to keep alive the knowledge, traditions and customs of pre-Hispanic peoples, ceremonies that together with colorful and showy costumes, the sound of snails, music and the smell of copal, created an environment conducive to reflection, connection and synchrony with nature and the cosmos.
Daniel Jaimes, a passionate fan of astronomy and Toltec culture who came to participate in the ceremony of an indigenous organization, said that it was a “unique experience.”
On the other hand, according to reports from the workers of the Archaeological Zone of Tula, the influx of visitors increased this weekend on the occasion of the Winter Solstice, however, this Sunday is the day with the greatest number.
Source: oem
