The canals of Xochimilco are a vestige of the Aztec agricultural technique of using "chinampas" to extend arable land in wetland areas. Chinampas are raised agricultural fields between canals. They are formed by rooting rectangular cane frames to the lake floor and filling them with alternating layers of aquatic weeds, muck, and earth until they rise up about one meter above the surface of the water. Willow trees are planted along the edges of the fields and their roots help to contain the chinampas. This agricultural technique shows the ingenuity of the Aztecs and their ability to adapt to their surroundings. Chinampas allowed for intensive farming of swampy areas and allowed the Aztec empire to sustain a large population.
The name Coyoacan comes from Nahuatl (the language of the Aztec/Mexica) and most likely means "place of coyotes". It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Mexico City.This area is filled with narrow cobblestone streets and small plazas, which were laid out during the colonial period, and today give the area a distinct and bohemian identity surrounded by old trees and flowers. The famous “blue house” was Frida Kahlo's birthplace, belonging to Coyoacan.
Xochitl is a Nahuatl or Aztec word meaning ‘flower’. The Xochitl flower, also known as the Mexican marigold, holds significant spiritual and cultural significance in Mexican culture. It symbolizes death and rebirth and is often used during Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, celebrations. In ancient Aztec mythology, the goddess of flowers was known as Xochiquetzal. The Xochitl flower is associated with this goddess, and its spiritual significance is rooted in the goddess’s teachings of love, beauty, and fertility. The flower’s vibrant colors and sweet fragrance are believed to be offerings to the goddess, and the flower is seen as a symbol of beauty, love, and purity.