December 12 Celebrating Virgin of Guadalupe
Tara A. Spears
The magic of the holiday season in Mexico begins December 12 with candlelight processions all over the nation in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. Mary is depicted with brown skin, an angel and moon at her feet and rays of sunlight that encircle her. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor, indigenous man named Juan Diego. The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe) is still a popular Catholic feast that celebrates the belief that an ordinary man encountered the Virgin Mary in Mexico City on December 12, 1531.
According to Catholic Church, “Our Lady of Guadalupe is unlike any other apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. First, it is the only apparition where Our Lady left a miraculous image of herself unmade by human hands. Second, it is the only universally venerated Madonna and Child image where Our Lady appears pregnant instead of holding the Infant Jesus.”
In the image Our Lady wears the traditional garments of an Aztec princess. A black sash around her waist was a cultural tradition among the Aztec women that indicated pregnancy. All the elements of the image point to Our Lady as being above the gods the Aztecs worshiped, while at the same time showing that she herself was submissive to the true Creator God while being pregnant with the Divine God-man that grew in her womb.
As the Virgin of Guadalupe requested, a church was built on the Hill of Tepeyac to mark the apparition site, and today it is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage shrine in the world. Venerated in this cathedral is the original cape of St. Juan Diego, which still displays the miraculous Our Lady of Guadalupe image. The image has been subjected to scientific testing to prove its authenticity and miraculous properties.
Many churches have lit fireworks after the evening rosary in the ten days leading up to the 12th.. In some towns there have been processions that follow the altar of the Virgin through the streets, with children dressed as Mary or the Indian Juan Diego.
Home decorations include a shrine to the Virgin and range from simple to elaborate, with candles, flowers, and other individual touches. The celebration often culminates by the faithful awakening before sunrise on the 12th to serenade the virgin at local churches, then participating in a community feast, in which foods like prozole (a pork and hominy stew), atole (a corn-based drink), and many more dishes are freely offered to all.
This holiday is a prelude to Las Posadas, wh
ich take place during the nine days leading up to Christmas. Both offer a chance for vacationers to become part of a generous spirit of community celebration, where people with few material advantages have much to give. Participation in these festivities, usually centered at the local church, is an unexpectedly rich bonus beyond fun at the beach.
The ubiquitous image of Our Lady can be seen all over Mexico. Her image of a woman standing alone, atop a crescent moon and encircled by rays of the sun appears as statues, tattoos, articles of clothing, jewelry and art. Celebrations in her honor have been held annually for over 400 years on December12th. Guadalupe Day is an important festival for the Mexicans – it is a time when the Mexican Catholics celebrate their religious and cultural identity and to offer thanks to their patron saint, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Everyone is welcome to join in. Whether or not you
are a believer, it’s easy to get into a holiday spirit on Guadalupe Day.