Flowers as gifts
Among the Nahuas, garlands and hand-held bunches of flowers were given to honored guests, along with collars and other gifts, at a formal welcome.
Moctezuma Comes Out to Meet the Strangers
Bernardino de Sahagún and his Nahua informants, History of the Conquest of Mexico (Book XII of the General History of the Things of New Spain), chapters 15–16, edited by Carlos María de Bustamante (1829) · compiled from the 1550s to the 1570s (events of November 1519)
En llegando los Españoles á aquel rio que está cabe las casas de Alvarado que se llama Xoluco, luego Mocthecuzoma se aparejó para irlos á recibir con muchos señores y principales, y nobles para recibir con paz y con honra á D. Hernando Cortés, y á los otros capitanes; tomaron muchas flores hermosas y olorosas hechas sartales, y en guirnaldas, y compuestas para las manos, y pusiéronlas en platos muy pintados y muy grandes hechos de calabazas, y tambien llevaron collares de oro y de piedras.
As the Spaniards reached the stream called Xoluco, beside the houses of Alvarado, Mocthecuzoma made ready to go out and receive them. With him went many lords, chief men, and nobles, to receive Don Hernando Cortés and the other captains in peace and with honor. They took many beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers, made into strings and garlands and arranged to be held in the hand. They set them on great gourd dishes, brightly painted. They also brought collars of gold and precious stones.
Llegando Mocthecuzoma á los Españoles al lugar que llaman Vitzillan que es cabe el hospital de la Concepcion, luego allí el mismo Mocthecuzoma puso un collar de oro y de piedras al capitan D. Hernando Cortés, y dió flores y guirnaldas á todos los demas capitanes; habiendo dado el mismo Mocthecuzoma este presente como ellos lo usaban hacer, luego D. Hernando Cortés preguntó al mismo Mocthecuzoma, y Mocthecuzoma respondió: yo soy Mocthecuzoma, y entonces enhiestóse delante del capitan haciéndole gran reverencia, y enhiestóse luego de cara á cara del capitan cerca de él, y comenzole á hablar de esta manera.
Mocthecuzoma met the Spaniards at the place called Vitzillan, beside the hospital of the Conception. There Mocthecuzoma himself put a collar of gold and precious stones on Captain Don Hernando Cortés, and gave flowers and garlands to all the other captains. When he had given this gift, as was their custom, Don Hernando Cortés asked him [who he was], and he answered, “I am Mocthecuzoma.” Then he drew himself up before the captain and bowed deeply to him. He drew himself up again, face to face with the captain and close to him, and began to speak to him like this.