Living Without Borders

Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, December 12

December 11th, 2006

Tomorrow is one of the most important feast days in all of Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe is much more than a saint or even a religious figure, but is the true symbolic mother of all Mexicans, religious or not, in Mexico, and all over the world. To understand her role in Mexico, is to understand a great deal about the Mexican mind, ethos, and understanding of the world.

As the second in our series about Christmas celebrations in Mexico, we wanted to share with you a couple of good articles on the celebrations and on the Virgin of Guadalupe herself. The first is this excellent summary from Antencion San Miguel by Maria Teresa Valenzuela that provides back-up on the pre-hispanic goddesses and celebrations surrounding them and those surrounding the Virgin and the celebrations of today.

Click on Cuernavaca also has a nice summary more specific to their area, and to the Mexico City basilica that has become a huge site for pilgrims. And clear to the south the Working Gringos at Yucatan Living have an excellent post (from which comes this photo) on the altar building, bicycle processions, promesas and feasting that make this part of Mexico so special and unique.

Brenda and Roy have written a more down to Earth account of what your experience of the celebrations might be like, complete with more stunning photographs of some of the happenings in and around Guaymas, Mexico. And that reminded us a little of this quote from the incomparable Octavio Paz:

The solitary Mexican loves public celebrations and meetings. Everything can be a reason to gather. Any excuse will do to interrupt the march of time and celebrate with parties and ceremonies, men and facts. We are a people of rituals. […] During the days before and after December 12th, time stops its race, makes a stop and instead of pushing us to an always unreachable and lying tomorrow, it offers us a round and perfect present, of dancing and parties, of communion and eating with the oldest and deepest of Mexico. Time stops being a continuous and returns to be what it was, and is, originally: a present where past and future finally reconcile.

-Translated by Livingwithoutborders from the essay “Todos Santos, Día de Muertos”

Entry Filed under: Living in Mexico, Guaymas, Comparing Cultures