THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE

Who IS the Virgin of Guadalupe?

She is such an iconic figure in México, but in reality I had no idea who she was until I started my research.  She is simply the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.  Venerated at the Basilica of Guadalupe in México City.  Here’s her story.

On December 9, 1531, a “Marian apparition” was experienced by an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, now a suburb of the capital city.  Over the next three days he experienced the apparition of Mary twice more.  She appeared asking, in his native Nahuatl language and in Spanish, that a church be built on the hill on which she stood to aid in the conversion of the indigenous people to Christianity.  The local bishop was hard to convince until, on December 12th, Juan Diego opened his tilma, his outer garment, and loosed hundreds of Castillian rose petals (not usually found in that area) from inside, revealing an image of the Virgin on the cloth beneath.  Miracles of healing followed and over time she has become the most popular religious and cultural symbol in México.

Juan Diego’s tilma with the original image of the Virgen de Guadalupe is enshrined at the basilica named in her honor, the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world.  The image is of a mestiza (combined European and indigenous descent) with delicate features, hands in prayer, and a pink gown (sign of a new era) over-layed with a blue-green cerulean robe (color of the gods) dotted with eight point stars (from heaven).  She stands on a crescent moon with feathered cherubs carrying the hem of her robe.  A sunburst of straight and wavy gold rays, projected from behind, surrounds her.

Printed accounts of the events and images of the Virgin began appearing in 1648.  Hispanic communities and religious organizations all over the world have adopted this image.  In the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, Miguel Hidalgo led armies with flags emblazoned with her image, as did Emiliano Zapata in the Mexican Revolution of 1910. In 1999 the Catholic Church proclaimed La Virgen of Guadalupe Patroness of the Americas, Empress of Latin America, and Protectress of Unborn Children.  The indigenous people of México associate her with their polytheistic deities, increasing her popularity.  One Mexican interpretation is “mother of maguey” referring to the agave or century plant, the source of the sacred drink known as “pulque” and noting the spikes of the agave plant surrounding her instead of rays of light.

Ajijic author Judy King says the Virgin is a “common denominator” uniting the Mexican people and “the rubber band that binds this disparate nation into a whole”.  Mexican novelist Carlow Fuentes says “You cannot truly be considered a Mexican unless you believe in the Virgen of Guadalupe”.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Day was declared a national Mexican holiday in 1859.  Today hundreds of thousands of people celebrate in Mexico City with candles and special music (see YouTube for “Las Mañanitas”).  But the celebrations are by no means limited to the capital.  The streets in every city, town, and village fill as December 12th approaches.  Feast your eyes on street side shrines, processions carrying the image of Guadalupe to and from the churches, fireworks, food, music, and fun.  In some places there are floats, indigenous dance troupes, charro horsemen and ladies, costumed children, and “coheteros” carrying armfuls of skyrockets, shooting them off along their way.

This is the beginning of a two week celebration for the Mexican people, including Christmas and ending on January 6th, Three King’s Day.  This is México at its best.  Celebrating with hearts full of devotion and love.  Celebrating their Virgen who protects and cares for them.

México is known for its fireworks – bombas, cohetones, and castillos, in particular – and  famous for its noise as well, something you learn to enjoy and/or cope with as a resident of México.  Huge towers (castillos), sometimes over 50′ tall, are constructed by hand and set up on plazas, spinning color and fire into the air and the crowds.  (A neighbor informed me last night that the castillo builders are great craftsman, revered for their meticulous construction. Good to know.)  Smaller versions, timed and purposeful,  awaken the people for the day, announcing mass, and propelling their prayers to God.  Most fireworks are made from scratch in small family businesses with little to no training and frequent accidents.  If you’re brave enough (or crazy enough!) to stand close by you’ll be filled with wonder.  I, for one, can’t usually stay up late enough to catch them and am probably too chicken anyway, but if I’m lucky I’ll see sparks from my faraway mirador.  That is why the picture below is by my favorite photographer of Mexican life, Dane Strom.

Here’s a different perspective.  This week a friend sent me an article from The Philadelphia Inquirer (December 12, 2019).  Female minister, artist, and activist, Katie Jo Suddaby created a Buddhist style sand painting two years ago depicting the Virgin being led away by ICE agents, hands cuffed with a zip tie.   After watching the immigration news on television the temporary painting was meant to raise awareness of the unkindness committed at the border between Mexico and the United States.  The founder of Philatinos Radio, Edgar Ramirez, commented that “it’s impossible to overstate the importance fo the Virgin to the faithful…she literally represents their mother, their faith, their reason for existence”.  The photograph of the sand painting goes viral each time immigration issues rise up in the media.  And from another source, and I quote, “These are deeply held traditions of a people who’ve suffered centuries of oppression yet maintained a cheerful, festive culture”.  Perhaps this explains why baby girls born on December 12th are often named Guadalupe and baby boys are name Juan Diego.  May we all find the bright spots in our lives.    Viva México!