The Hummingbird's Daughter

The hummingbirds that appear throughout the novel serve as a motif for The Union of Catholic and Indigenous Spirituality. A hummingbird carries deep significance in Mexican culture, and the birds frequently appear in Teresita’s dreams and visit her in real life. For the Aztecs, hummingbirds were associated with being a good warrior, and the hummingbird itself was the primary symbol for the god Huitzilopochtli. The hummingbird therefore carries significance in Indigenous traditions in Mexico and is supplemented by its connection to God in the Catholic faith. As Huila explains, “[The hummingbird] is the messenger. He brings messages from Heaven to us on earth. And he carries our requests to the ear of God” (97). Because of the bird’s role as a messenger from God, Teresita views hummingbirds with reverence and feels connected to God through them. The hummingbird’s place in Aztec culture also endures, and its legacy still influences Huila and Teresita’s beliefs. The bird also has significant Indigenous importance and is connected to several deities. With Catholicism sweeping across Mexico, that connection becomes a part of Catholic faith as well. Therefore, the significance of the hummingbirds in the text is designed to emphasize its dual importance in Catholic and Indigenous spirituality.