Arriving in the capital you’ll quickly discover that the ancient customs of Aztec civilization are visible throughout modern day Mexico City. In the Historic Center in Mexico City next to the Templo Mayor Aztec dancers in traditional dress perform daily rituals while drums beat in the background and thick clouds of incense fill the air. Markets and tianguis overflow with chiles, powders and spices for moles and destinations throughout Mexico City retain their Náhuatl names and pronunciations.
Modern day Mexico City exists where the ancient Aztec empire of Tenochtitlán stood more than seven centuries ago. In the early 16th century the Tenochtitlán empire spanned modern-day central Mexico from the Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico and extended into the southern region of the country. After the arrival of the Spanish the city was transformed. Ancient structures were destroyed and rebuilt using some of the same materials. Streets were constructed over Aztec causeways and canals.
One of the best remaining examples of ancient Aztec city planning can be seen in the Xochimilco borough located in the southern region of Mexico City. Colorful wooden gondolas, or trajineras, cruise the waterways past modern versions of raised gardens, or chinampas, created by the Aztecs along the banks of the canals.
Náhuatl is the ancient language of the Aztecs. After the arrival of the Spanish many native speakers of Náhuatl continued to live in and around Mexico City outnumbering the Spanish speakers for several decades. Náhuatl made its way into the Spanish language helped in part by the fact that no words previously existed for many of the things the Spanish encountered upon arrival in Mexico including chocolate, tomato, coyote, avocado, chili and mescal.
Náhuatl was frequently used in the naming of places and today many parts of Mexico, even those far from Mexico City have Náhuatl names. Most place names end in tla(n), pa(n), ca(n), or c(o) all of which translate roughly to in or at the place of.
Today, more and more young people are embracing their Mexican heritage and the traditions of the past. In Mexico City you’ll find that the past is all around you, blending with the present and creating a city unlike any other.
