From moon to moon: aunts chores for an Otomi wedding

Abstract

This essay relates to women’s work and life in the Otomí community of San Jerónimo Acazulco, in the Las Cruces mountains, Central Mexico, to show some deep and old beliefs around mole and rice prepared to serve in a traditional wedding. The focal points are the tías, the “aunts”, old women who have cared about life and have power over fire. This power is much more clear at night, when the preparation of the mole starts. The paper provides guidelines about feast materiality and social relationships in terms of hierarchy and reciprocity.