What is the Guadalupe Reyes in Mexico?

La Guadalupe Reyes, also known as la Virgen de Guadalupe or the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a popular religious figure in Mexico. She is revered as the patron saint of Mexico and is considered an important symbol of Mexican identity.

According to tradition, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to a Mexican indigenous man named Juan Diego in December 1531 on the Hill of Tepeyac, near Mexico City. Juan Diego was a Catholic convert who had recently converted to Christianity, and the Virgin Mary appeared to him in the form of a mestiza, or a woman of mixed indigenous and European ancestry. She asked him to build a church in her honor on the hill, and when he returned to the bishop to request permission, he found an image of the Virgin Mary on his cloak, which is now known as the tilma of Juan Diego.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is widely revered in Mexico and throughout the Americas, and her feast day on December 12 is a national holiday in Mexico. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is a major pilgrimage site for Catholics and is visited by millions of people each year. The Virgin of Guadalupe is also an important cultural symbol in Mexico and is often depicted in art, music, and other cultural expressions.

How do they celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico?

In Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with several traditions and rituals. On her feast day, December 12, Catholics in Mexico and throughout the Americas attend Mass and participate in other religious ceremonies in her honor. Many people also make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which is a major site of devotion for Catholics.

In addition to religious ceremonies, the Virgin of Guadalupe is also celebrated in several other ways in Mexico. It is common for people to decorate their homes and businesses with images of the Virgin, and many people wear clothing or jewelry with her image on it. It is also common for people to participate in parades and processions in honor of the Virgin, and for bands to play music in her honor.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is also celebrated in other Latin American countries, although the specific traditions and celebrations may vary. In general, the Virgin of Guadalupe is an important cultural and spiritual symbol in Mexico and throughout the Americas, and her feast day is a time for people to come together and celebrate their faith and their cultural heritage.