Celebrating Virgin of Guadalupe Day
Tara A. Spears
The magic of the holiday season in Mexico begins December 12 with candlelight processions all across the country in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. In this image of Mary the virgin 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, 1531. Venerating the Virgin of Guadalupe is still an important belief in modern Mexico.
According to the 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.”
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 tilma 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.
For the week preceding the 12th, many churches light fireworks after the evening rosary. In some towns there are 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 shared in potluck fashion.
Evidence of devotion is apparent in everyday things, such as clothing, décor and tattoos.
This holiday is a prelude to Las Posadas, which take place during the nine days leading up to Christmas. Both Mexican traditions 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- seen all over Mexico- appears as statues, tattoos, articles of clothing, jewelry and art, is that of a woman standing alone, atop a crescent moon and encircled by rays of the sun. 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.
The section of most Mexican churches that is consecrated to the Virgin of Guadalupe is known as the santuario. Some towns will have special costumed dancers known as matachines. These dressed up dancers lead the procession through the streets, dancing and singing, ending the pilgrimage at the altar to lay flowers. Guayabitos has such a procession that is beautiful to see!
Everyone is welcome to join in. Whether or not you are a believer, it’s easy to get into the holiday spirit on Guadalupe Day.