Mexico Saltillo Mission Christmas Ornament

Made out of a lightweight and very durable transparent acrylic, these ornaments will not weigh your tree down and can definitely withstand being dropped by the little ones should they get too curious around the tree.  The acrylic is cut into a 4 inch circle and then laser etched with the name of the mission and graphics inspired by the region served.

The design on this ornament is inspired by the Coat of Arms for the United Mexican States, which is also included on the national flag of Mexico. The coat of arms recalls legends surrounding the founding of Mexico City, then called Tenochtitlan by the Aztecs, and depicts an Mexican golden eagle perched on a nopal cacti devouring a rattle snake, above oak and laurel leaves.

While early European settlers and missionaries claimed that the symbolism of earlier versions of this artwork to depicted the battle between good (the eagle) and evil (the snake), the original symbolism of the pictograph is debated. Though it is widely accepted that eagle represents Huītzilōpōchtli, the Aztec god of war, the sun, sacrifice and patron Mexico city, while the snake is representative of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god of wind, arts, crafts, knowledge and wisdom.

Get one for yourself or send a pair out to your missionary and their companion!