EL Dia De La Virgen "Celebrates the day that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on Tepeyac hill to the native Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin" (that is Wikipedia's description of the day of the virgin Mary). That is a very good description of the history of the meaning of that day, but what it fails to do is describe the feelings and customs that the Mexican Catholics have for every December 12th.
Like every year, being a devout Catholic, I will wake up around 2 AM to get ready for church. This year I will wear an indigenous Mexican dress to church, like many other peregrinos (a person that makes a journey to a Holy place. The reason for wearing these traditional dresses is because the apparition of the Holy Virgin Mary of Guadalupe to an indegenous man, Juan Diego. So many of us will dress in indigenous clothes. Mary decided to appear to a humble poor man, not one of the rich Spaniard Deacons. To me, that is a symbol that La Virgen De Guadalupe is the mother and protector of those less fortunate, least powerful and most poor.
Once I arrive at church, which I am planning on getting there around 3 AM, there will be singing until Mass begins at 6 AM. Some songs sang will, for example, be El Tepeyac-La Guadalupana and the spanish version of Happy Birthday dedicated to the Virgin Mary. When many are dedicating these songs to our Holy Mother, there will be people that will take beautiful and elaborate flower arrangements to either her statue or painting. There are some people that will walk on their knees from the back of the church all the way to her statue.
This could be because Catholics, but primarly Mexican Catholics, trust and pray very deeply in the Virgin Mary. Maybe this person walking on their knees was diagnosed with some type of disease back in January. Well this person must have prayed to La Virgen, to pray for her and to help her with a miracle. So now almost a year later, this person is cured. Therefore, this person now "owes" her a penance.
After all the pilgrimage and singing, and right before Mass begins, Aztec dancers will come into the church and do a very special dance dedicated to her. Once the dance is completed, Mass will begin.
After Mass there is usually a reception held in the Parish Hall, pot lock style.
In Mexico, some towns might even throw a town party, or some families might even have a huge feast at their homes, sometimes fancier than a Christmas dinner.
As for me, I must thank La Virgen for being the Mother of Jesus Christ, and for setting such a wonderful example on how to live a Christian life. Now it's a bit early, but time for me to sleep, if I want to be able to wake up!
~JDWSGW~
just dance when something goes wrong
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment