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The Virgin of Guadalupe
December 11th and 12th
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History
Mexico is a country held together by
a common strength of faith. Much of this faith revolves around Our Lady
Guadalupe who first appeared in 1531 and is still inspiring acts of kindness and
courage in her native land.
In 1531 there were approximately
100 native Mexicans who considered themselves Christians. The Spanish
missionaries who devoted their lives to converting the Mexicans must have begun
to believe that this land was simply not going to "see the light" of
their savior with the European countenance.
Against this backdrop, one of the
100, Juan Diego was stopped on a hilltop walk (through Sacred Aztec ground) by a
white light and music. A vision appeared of a dark skinned woman who identified
herself as the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell Bishop Juan de Zumarraga that
a church should be built on the spot where she appeared.
The Bishop was skeptical of Juan's
request and asked for proof which Juan went in search of. On December 12,
the Virgin appeared again and asked Juan to pick roses from the hillside he was
crossing. Juan held his flowers in his cloak as he went to visit the bishop.
When he dropped the flowers out of his cloak for the Bishop, the Bishop and Juan
were the first to view the imprint of the face of the Virgin.
The shroud is now housed in a
small basilica on the very spot the Virgin originally requested a church be
built.
Within a short period of time, millions of Mexicans converted to a religion that
witnessed miracles from a dark skinned woman on sacred ground.
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It has become a custom in most Mexican Cities to carry a
statue of the Virgin from where they live or work to the Cathedral or village
church on the night before her Feast day. This large
float (well its large if you are carrying it 3 or 4 miles. is
resting outside before being blessed by the priest at the cathedral. |
Today..
Pilgrimages to the basilica are
only part of the yearly celebration of Our lady of Guadalupe. Festivals, crafts,
food, masks and a rodeo complete the days celebrations. The festivities
vary from city to city. In the days preceding the annual feast day of the
virgin somewhere between 7 and 8 million people will have trekked from all
parts of Mexico -- and beyond -- via plane, bus, bicycle and on foot to gather
at the Basilica and the surrounding plaza in a northern suburb of Mexico
city. Some seek miracles others thank the virgin for miracles already
performed.
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Most come dressed in the clothes they were wearing when its
time to go, while others get dressed in elaborate customs that they have prepared
especially for this march. Some dress their children up in outfits like Juan Diego
wore when he first saw the Virgin. But young and old they all walk to
honor the Virgin.
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The Zocolo or area in front of the
cathedral is transformed into a huge carnival with booths selling food, trinkets and lots of
photography booths. These booths have different backgrounds and some have toy
donkeys, realistic looking donkeys and sometimes even real donkeys that the little
kiddies get on and have their pictures taken. Its a real mixture of tourists
gawking, religious devotion, a good time, something different to do, mommy made me and
party time. All rolled up into a festival that only the Mexicans could put on.
Most of the people just stream into front door of the
church, get blessed by the priests who are really running an assembly line and out the
side door. It sounds crude, but then they have thousands waiting outside to get
in. They walk around and then head back home where they have a big party,
with traditionally Pazzoli, beer and other party foods to celebrate another good
year.
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Its really quite interesting and something
to see. I took some pictures at last years festival that really do not do justice to
this big event. But it might give you a bit of an idea of what goes on. This
is one night I look forward to every year.
Most of the parties and marches are on the day before
or the eve of the Feast Day. The next day many of the business's, most govt.
offices and most of the schools are closed. Its an unofficial holiday.
Besides its hard to work after a night of partying. If you live anywhere
near a church or main street its almost impossible to sleep the night before as
pilgrams explode fireworks all night long as they march to the Virgin.
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