The union of matrimony, or in the Aztec custom, the tying of the ribbons is an ancient Aztec ritual. The bride and grooms wrists are joined by ribbons. This is a significant in the respect that the couples are joinning their destinies on a physical, spiritual and emotional level. This ceremony is full of beatiful symbolism and reflects the clear understanding of human nature and its relationship with the rest of our world.

This ceremony is preferably held in an outdoors environment, so one can be in contact with the physical energies of the universe. A circle is formed where the couple will enter. Inside of the circle, the couple will fullfill, one step at a time each part of the commitment ceremony.

First, the leader will cleanse and prepare the center area of the circle with an offering of fruits, flowers and incence. the regidor, or head councilor of the group will lead the ceremony. He will have four guides to aromatically give an offering to the cardinal direction of the earth, with copal, the incense that will be used for the ceremony. The bride will be brought into the circle by three woman and cleansed with the incense. She will then be led to her future husband with her back placed to his. There will be a moment of silence for our ancestors and the living, involking the support and consent of this union. The brige and groom will then turn and face each other and will be told their resposibilities and obligations to form this sacred union. The groom will then be accompanied from the right to the left to the four cardinal directions where he will make a hole into the earth. This symbolizes his controbution of physical labor and work. The bride will then come and deposit for grans of corn in the hole which has been dug, and will water the new life to be. This symbolizes fertility and the conjoined work they will do as a couple in this union of matrimony. Thereafter, they will drink of a bitter tea to realize that life does have its bitter moments. They will then partake of something sweet to compensate for life´s bad moments. The bride and groom will then embrace, and their wrists will be tied together with ribbons, They will be perfumed and cleansed. with incense and thir names will be shouted to the four winds. The formality of the ceremony will close with a showet of fresh flower petals that will comen down upon the sacred union of the couple, who will then depart the circle.

January 2004