| New Fire was kindled at the beginning of every solar year in a ceremony recalling the original sacrifice through which the gods gave birth to the sun of the present age of the world. The enactment of this ceremony that fell at the end of 52 solar years was particularly significant, since this marked the completion of one Calendar Round, the binding together of the solar and divinatory calendars used by the Mexica. Sahagun recorded the tradition of the creation of the current, Fifth, sun: At midnight, in Teotihuacan, the gods gathered around their hearth fire. For four days they discussed the need to create a new sun, and who would take the active role in this creation. Finally, they urged Teciztecatl to throw himself on the fire to become the sun. But although he began to do so four times, each time he wavered at the end, afraid. Then the gods turned to Nanahuatzin, an ugly god whose skin was covered in pustules, and he closed his eyes and threw himself on the fire. Teciztecatl followed his example and leaped in as well. The fire burned them both, and the gods waited for their reappearance. Finally, the sky turned red and dawn came, when Nanahuatzin rose in the east as the new sun. (Teciztecatl, who followed Nanahuatzin into the fire, rose later as the weaker, dimmer moon.) But although the sun had risen, it hung without moving in the east, until the gods pierced their own bodies for the blood necessary to provide energy, motion, ollin.
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