Adopted By Aztecs As the Tolmecs and Olmecs were taken over by Aztec and Mayan civilizations, their food was so good that the Aztecs and Mayans adopted their recipes. And so the tamale culture-hopped and became part of everyday life for the Aztecs and Mayans. The Aztecs were so taken with tamales, they started holding tamale festivals and week-long rituals.. Read more