The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated on Dec. 12, is a significant religious and cultural observance in Mexico and the Roman Catholic community, honoring the Virgin Mary as she appeared in four visions before Indigenous Mexican convert St. Juan Diego in 1531.
According to Britannica, the religious tradition recounts how Mary revealed herself to Juan Diego on four occasions between Dec. 9 and 12, 1531, on Tepeyac Hill near present-day Mexico City.
Why is the Virgin of Guadalupe considered a national symbol of Mexico?
She asked him to build a shrine in her honor three times, but the bishop opposed the request. On the fourth occasion, she instructed Juan Diego to gather red roses from the hill and present them to the bishop. When he did so, he opened his tilma (cloak), and the roses fell out, revealing Mary’s image.
Her likeness is that of a woman with mixed Indigenous and European features, wearing a turquoise-colored mantle surrounded by a sunburst. Mary has played an essential role as a national symbol of Mexico, per Britannica. Her shrine is the most visited and has existed since 1556.
Feast of Our Lady Guadeloupe was celebrated in style this year
On Wednesday, a celebration for the Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe was held in downtown Dallas Wednesday night at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in honor of the annual event, according to NBC DFW.
A large community of Latinos, particularly Mexican Americans, gathered at the church to commemorate Mary’s significance to their religious faith. In 2023, the Cathedral was designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“Now that it’s a national Cathedral, that part of the attraction, that we’re going to recruit more people than last year,” Father Jesús Belmontes said, per NBC DFW.
Feels like home
Our Feast of Lady Guadalupe also connects those living in the area back to their roots in Mexico.
Several people shared what the annual event meant to them.
“Tradition. You just feel it like you need to be here,” Isabel Elizondo said, per NBC DFW.
“I’m happy. I just love how our community goes together,” Andrea Martinez of Dallas commented.
