December 12 – Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico

nPosted on December 12, 2017

nToday’s celebration is based on the story of a native Mexican man – he is usually called an Aztec or a Nahua man – having visions of the “Virgin Mary” in the month of December. The Virgin Mary is said to be the mother of Jesus in the Christian religion. Diego saw the Virgin on a hill, and she asked him to build a church dedicated to her on that hill.

nThe man, Juan Diego, went down to town and told the Spanish bishop what he had seen and heard on the hilltop. Of course, the bishop did not believe him. But the vision of the Virgin kept appearing to Juan Diego – always on that hilltop – and asked him to insist.

nThe Virgin is supposed to have given Diego signs to prove to others that he was telling the truth. One sign was beautiful roses that would never grow on that hilltop in December; he carried the roses back to town in his cloak. The second sign was that a picture of the Virgin appeared on that cloak.

nThe picture of the Virgin was supposed to have appeared magically, but there is evidence of paint on the cloak.

The story goes on to say that, when Diego came down from the hill with impossible roses and a miraculous image on his cloak, people finally did believe he had seen visions of the Virgin.

nThe miracle and the change of heart for the bishop and other townsfolk is said to have happened on this date in1531.

nA church dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe was built on the hillside, as requested. But a much more important effect of this story was that many more of the native peoples of Mexico began to accept the Christian religion that the Spaniards who had conquered them taught.

The Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe is one of the most celebrated religious holidays in Mexico, and it is the beginning of a Christmas tradition called Las Posadas.

nKids celebrate the holiday with corn cake, candy sticks, and roses in December – made of paper, of course!

Adults often put flowers at shrines for the Virgin Mary, and they often have big feasts and parties. As you can see from these photos, some people participate in reenactments of the Juan Diego story, some walk on pilgrimages to church, many decorate shrines with flowers or candles, and dances and musical performances show a combination of Aztec or other native culture and Spanish culture.