CHAPTER IX

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PUBLIC FESTIVALS.

Frequent Occurrence of Religious Feasts -- Human Sacrifices -- Feasts of the Fourth Year -- Monthly Festivals -- Sacrifice of Children -- Feast of Xipe -- Manner of Sacrifice -- Feasts of Camaxtli, of the Flower Dealers, of Centeotl, of Tezcatlipoca, and of Huitzilopochtli -- Festival of the Salt Makers -- The Sacrifice by Fire -- Feast of the Dead -- The Coming of the Gods -- The Footprints on the Mat -- Hunting Feast -- The Month of Love -- Hard Times -- Nahua Lupercalia -- Feasts of the Sun, of the Winter Solstice -- Harvest and Eight-Year Festivals -- The Binding of the Sheaf 302

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