By Obzidian

According to Nawa oral tradition koyolli “coyoleras”, rattles or also known as jingle bells on the ankles represent the triumph used by Wuitzilopoxtli (Huitzilopochtli). The koyolli symbolize the 4 elements -water, fire, earth and air, which were used by the Jaguar and Eagle Warriors and whose sound evokes that produced by the storms associated with fertility and abundance…

Which makes sense because this is part of a warrior armor. The dances were part of warfare. We wore these combat armors during battle primarily. Dances and music were part of our daily life. We drum and blow the conch or play the teponaxtli during rituals.

Koyolli (coyolli), rattle appears in the Classical Nawatl (nahuatl), but currently they are also known as Xaxayotl (Chachayotl) which means to play an instrument and Ayoyotl, watery rattle; that when shaken are a type idiophone percussion instrument which sounds like rain.

In the current Aztek dance society we practice with one of the fundamental elements that make up the attire which are the koyolli or rattles on our ankles. These have a deep meaning associated with the philosophy from our ancestors that comes alive when they sound.

The sound of the koyolli is also associated with Tlalok “the nectar of the rain that feeds the earth”. When dancing, at times only the rattles are sounding, a torrent of rain is clearly heard, therefore, with our movements we also ritualize the fecundity of the earth in this union of rainwater with the earth.

Tlalok in a philosophical sense symbolizes the condensation ov energy given that, it is the liquid that that descends from the sky, from Father Sky to make seeds sprout into flowers and generate fruits that give sustenance to humans.

It is customary that the rattle of each foot should be composed of 52 koyolmeh representing a turn in the time count, therefore when joining both koyolli they add up to 104 coyolmeh; which are the years it takes Venus to pass in front of the Sun and in this time its 13 pentagonal synodic cycles are fulfilled. These koyolli are earned by learning dances and passing tests. Nothing is given to anyone without earning it even the Tlatoani and people with authority or what were called Nobles had to earn them.

As we dance and rattle the koyolli with our energy; with our will, we ritualize the living presence of Tonantzin Tlalli “our venerable Mother Earth.” Aztek Dance is an activity in which we offer our energy so that the earth continues to generate the precious fruits that nourish us. In each step that has a particular meaning we recognize ourselves as part of nature.

The koyolli are very well represented in Koyolxauhki “the one that is adorned with precious rattles”. She governs the creative and life-giving feminine energy, associates with the moon but above all is the regent of the Zentzon Huitznawak “The four hundred warriors ov the South.”

When we dance and sound our koyolli we recognize ourselves as one of the warriors of the south, those who forge their will, as Huitzilopochtli does, the left-handed hummingbird that resembles the Sun from the south, the winter sun.

In the first instance the koyolli refers to the rattle of the serpent. In ancient Mexican thought the rattlesnake is symbolism that denotes the presence of our Mother Earth. Firstly, because its ripples resemble the valleys and mountains. In the second stance, because in its skin rhombuses are drawn and within each they are associated with the four directions that make up the universe. Thirdly, because every so often their old skin falls off, in the same way that the earth in winter gives off its old skin that is renewed in spring.

We dance together, in harmony, in the same sense and in duality since what the left side of our body does is also done by the right side. When we dance we learn that we are the same, unified by the heart of Mother Earth, which is the Huehuetl “drum”.

When we dance and rattle the seeds, we unite the sky with the earth, as the serpent fecundates with the nectar of the earth to create the flowers and fruits that nourish the human race. We dance, we become warriors ov the essences who have detached themselves from their selfishness to offer their time and energy in harmony together with our brothers and sisters on the way. As we dance, we learn that each step has a purpose, a meaning that is none other than to honor the life that is given to us by the duality ov Mother Earth and Father Sky, the venereated and creative duality.