On December 12, Mexicans celebrate one of the most faithful traditions,
the anniversary of the Vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531
to the Aztec baptized as Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico City.
The Spaniards destroyed the Aztec's deities and gods so they were
hopeless and with no faith.
They needed a new belief.
They didn't accept the white skin virgins that the Spaniards wanted them to adore.
Then the Indian, Juan Diego, had a vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe
telling him to have faith in her, the merciful Mother of God.
She told him to tell the priest to build a temple for her to be adored.
The Virgin of Guadalupe has a very special meaning.
There is an eclipse of the sun by the moon behind her.
An eclipse to the Aztecs meant a new life and a new belief.
When there was an eclipse, the Aztecs made human sacrifices to the sun, their god.
The Spanish friars wanted the Aztecs to stop making sacrifices to their pagan gods.
The Virgin has a cape with the stars, and a dress with a design of the
plants and flowers
which grew where she appeared.
There is an angel holding her with wings of the colors of the Mexican flag.
She is the most Merciful Virgin in America.
Most of the Mexican people pray and talk to her when going to bed and on awakening.
She provides hope to the people.
Aztec dancers dance all day for her.
People pilgrimage and walk on their knees, offer roses to her,
play mariachi music, and play flutes, trumpets and drums for her.
You will always see the Virgin of Guadalupe
in every church, every market and every home in Mexico.
December 16 through 24, children get together in the churches and private houses to pray
their rosary,
walk in a circle singing Christmas songs, holding candles and sparklers,
asking for "posada", a place to sleep.
It represents the 9 nights that Joseph and Mary walked from Nazareth to
Bethlehem
before Jesus Christ was born.
After the children pray their rosary and sing Christmas songs, they are
given fruit, candy and cookies.
And break the traditional "Pinata"
The nativity scene can be seen in many homes, churches and public
places,
and it helps to keep the family together. The family is very important in Mexico
Christmas is celebrated with just the family having dinner together in
peace and harmony.
In Mexico, it is not so common to exchange gifts on Christmas day as it is in other
countries.
The word "pinata" comes from the word, "pineapple".
The Spanish priests wanted to teach the Aztec people about Satan, the devil.
So they made up a pinata with colorful points to represent sins and temptations.
Children are blindfolded and holding a stick they jump and try to break the pinata.
When they break it, they kill the devil, candies and fruits fall to the ground
and everyone scrambles to pick up their candy. This represents the joy of killing
the devil.
Originally the pinata was a star, but now there are pinatas of many
different shapes or characters.
