Virgin of Guadalupe

This fiesta celebrates the Patroness of all Mexicans and of Latin America and consists of a very devout few days of celebrations with a formally organized set of events each year. The main day of the anniversary is the 12th of December.

The celebrations are immensely important to all Catholics in Oaxaca. The 11th in the morning it’s a tradition that all children are dressed up as native Indians and taken to the church to be blessed in devotion to the Virgin. Families line up for hours in order to be able to bring their kids into the church and there will be multiple sacraments given by various priests during the entire day. This tradition originates from the concept of trying to dress up the boys as Juan Diego, the Aztec Indian that the Virgin appeared to in the legend of her apparition which took place in December of 1531 in Mexico City and the girls also dressed with beautiful ethnic outfits.

As in most Christian Catholic anniversaries, the main day of celebrations isn’t the anniversary date but rather the eve, meaning the night before. So, on the eve, there are dances in front of the main church entrance followed by the dancing “Toritos” which are bulls made from reeds and stuffed with fireworks that explode as kids fight to have the honor or carrying them and chasing people that are watching, cheering to the sound of a brass band. We have all carried them in our lifetime and have the scars to remind us.
After, there will be a gigantic fireworks castle that will be lit for all to see and enjoy.
The following day the Virgin is serenaded by mariachis, brass bands, trios, single guitars and by many that from pure faith come to honor our “Madrecita”, “blessed Mother”. Then the Virgin will be brought out to the courtyard and faithful line up to get a chance to walk by and touch the Virgin with statues, flowers, paintings and other objects that will then rest in family altars.

The surrounding streets are festively covered with food stands, traditional fairground attractions, crafts and religious items that most buy to be blessed and take home.