Starting last weekend in my city (and many cities with a Mexican Catholic population as well), the Mexican population started celebrating the Virgin Mary. A local church hosted a parade, which had a floats honoring the Virgin and a wide variety of native dancing with vibrate costumes and people dancing to the beat of the drums. It turns out that one of my students and his family were dancing in the event. When I talked to my student’s mom, she said they the different groups are from different states of Mexico. Her group hails from Zacatecas. My friend told me that they are one of the best groups in town.
My wide shot of all the dancers (not a very good one).
This is the largest group of dancers.
Canela (my first time trying it) to keep me warm…luckily the high was 60 (in December).
The merging of two cultures
But what is the purpose for all this? I wondered. I asked my friend and she told me that the Virgin Mary appeared before a peasant named Juan Diego. And that was it…Well, that didn’t tell me much, so I had to look online for more information.
History
Juan Diego, a peasant, saw the Virgin Mary upon the Hill of Tepeyac. She spoke in Náhuatl, the language of Juan Diego, and requested a church to be built on that site. And thus, went to the archbishop of Mexico City, Juan de Zamarraga, but a lack of belief sent Juan Diego returning to the Virgin failing to complete the quest.
This happened a few more times until the archbishop wanted to proof of her identity. On December 12, Juan Diego returned; opened his tilma (Aztec cloak) and revealed roses. The roses fell and the image of the Virgin Mary appeared. On the day is when several Catholic Mexican celebrate the Feast of the Virgin Mary.
To learn more about it check out My heart of Mexico.
Have you seen it heard of this celebration?
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