Day of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe in Mexico

Image of the Virgin Mary of GuadalupeOn this day, pilgrims from all over Mexico gather at the gates of the religious center of the country - the Basilica (in other words, the temple) of the Virgin of Guadalupe, located in the northern part of the capital - Mexico City. They pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe (whom Mexicans respectfully call "Our Lady of Guadalupe" - "Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe"). After the Mass, folk festivities begin. How about without them? Mexicans are one of the most avid fiestas in the world. But everything in order.

This day has been a national holiday since 1859. It symbolizes the strengthening of the Catholic faith in Mexico. It was brought by the Spaniards, who at first tried to force the idea of a single god alien to the Indians. The religious struggle continued until the Virgin of Guadeloupe appeared to one of the Indians, Juan Diego. Since then, the religious history of Mexico has changed.

On December 12, 1531, a young Indian, Juan Diego, was on his way to Tepeiac Hill when suddenly the sky over it shone a bright light and the Virgin Mary appeared before him. He later described her as “a young girl with black hair and dark skin who looked more like an Indian than a white girl.” She ordered him to go to the priest and ask him to build a church on Tepeiac Hill. But the priest did not believe the words of the Indian and did not fulfill his requests.

A few days later, the Virgin Mary appeared again to Juan Diego and told him to collect a bouquet of flowers from the top of the hill. And since it was winter in the yard, and there were no flowers in sight, the young man was surprised, but still climbed the hill. What a surprise he was when he found a field of beautiful flowers! Juan Diego picked up a bunch of flowers and went back to the priest. When he unfolded his cape before the priest, in which he wrapped the flowers, the image of the Virgin Mary appeared before the eyes of both, miraculously manifested on the cloth of the cape. Then, finally, the priest believed the words of the young Indian and began to build a Basilica in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Today, thousands of people come to Mexico City just to visit the place where the Virgin of Guadalupe once appeared to the surrounding residents. December 12 is the day of traditional Mexican music and dance festivals. Pilgrims march through the city with bouquets of flowers in their hands (symbolic gifts for the Virgin Mary). Some of them, especially devout, walk along the stone road to the Basilica on their knees, praying for a miracle or offering thanksgiving prayers to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.

At the end of the church service, it is time to set festive tables, arrange trays with souvenirs, arrange street performances with music and dances. All this happens in the main square of Mexico City. In some parts of the city, altars are built from flowers in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. There is a place on this holiday even such dangerous fun as rodeos and bullfights.