Aztec and Maya Calendar

In the tonalpohualli, the sacred Aztec calendar, Tuesday January 17, 1531 is:

(Correlation: Alfonso Caso [adjust])

The significance of this day

This is the first of the five unlucky days (nemontemi) at the end of a year (xihuitl). It is better not to carry out any activity during these unfortunate and useless days. These nemontemi are extra dangerous because they are at the end of a calendar round of 52 years (xiuhmolpilli or bundle). All fires are to be extinguished. No public events are organized. After the nemontemi, there are seven days to prepare for the New Fire ceremony, held before the start of the day 1-Cipactli, the first day of the new bundle of years.

Day Atl (Water) is governed by Xiuhtecuhtli, God of Fire, as its provider of tonalli (Shadow Soul) life energy. Atl is a day for purification by subjecting oneself to the ordeal of conflict. It is a good day for battle, a bad day for rest. Water brings out the scorpion, who must sting its enemies or else sting itself. Atl is the day of the holy war, which is always a battle with one's own enemies within.

The thirteen day period (trecena) that starts with day 1-Ollin (Movement) is ruled by Tlazolteotl. This trecena is governed by the goddess of cotton and weaving, of sexuality and childbirth, she who is the eater of sins: it is the sign of the Scavenger, who feeds not on power but on the ills that darken the heart. The rainbow serpent, symbol of pleasure and folly, levitates amidst a shroud of smoke and shadow: these are 13 days of stolen secrets and odd twists of fate. The earth itself shakes: the ills created by shock can sometimes only be cured by greater shock. These are good days for self-purification; bad days for self-gratification.

Christina Aguilera was born on day 13-Atl.