Icniuhtli

[micc2]

Hi John,

The reporter Gil, is doing an in-depth ( I hope!) story about our dance
circle.
We told him that in the vernacular of today's danza, there are many
dancer who use the
term "ahuiliztli" or happiness to mean "friend".  The teaching behind
this for our children is that true happiness come to us not in terms of
materialism,
 but through the wealth of interpersonal relationships we build,
specifically the bonds that build between danzantes of different groups,
towns,
 and now,  nations.

It is similar to our use of "compadrito" and "comadrita".  We call each
other by these terms even though we have no formal "compadrazgo"
(such as taking someone's child to baptism, first communion, etc.)  we
are compadres/comadres by virtue of being danzantes.

This use of the term " happiness" to mean friend, appears to me,  is
very much in keeping with the "disfrasismos" of old times such as "In
xochitl in cuicatl",
In altepetl, etc.


mario
www.mexicayotl.org

John F. Schwaller wrote:

> I was contacted by a reporter wanting to verify a bit of information
> given
> to him in an interview he is doing.  He wanted to know if in fact the
> word
> for friend [icniuhtli; nocniuh] literally means "one who gives me
> happiness"
>
> I cannot see it, but maybe there is something I'm missing here.
>
> Help?
>
>
>
> John F. Schwaller
> Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean
> 315 Behmler Hall
> University of Minnesota, Morris
> 600 E 4th Street
> Morris, MN  56267
> 320-589-6015
> FAX 320-589-6399
> schwallr at mrs.umn.edu
>