The New Fire Ceremony
The ritual renewal performed at the end of calendar cycles.
At the end of major calendar cycles, the old fire was extinguished and a new fire was kindled, symbolizing cosmic renewal. This ceremony ensured that the new cycle would begin with proper energy. All household fires were rekindled from the new sacred flame.
The old fire dies that the new fire may be born; so turns the wheel of time.
New Fire ceremonies show the importance of ritual renewal in Mayan thought.
Colonial Sources
Written about in
- What the Maya calendar says about time
At the close of a cycle the old fire was put out and a new one kindled, and household fires were relit from it. Renewal was made into something you could watch happen.
- What the Maya tradition says about starting again after a fall
At the close of major calendar cycles every household fire was deliberately put out, then all were relit from a single new flame. Renewal here is scheduled and active — someone has to extinguish the old fire; it does not go out on its own.