|
The Pilgrimages |
By The Editor -
December, 2005 - Leer Español |
 Just like every year, the church is dressed with adecoration of colorsmanifesting joyso that weMexicans – through the traditional pilgrimages that are carried out all over Mexico from the 1st to the 12th of December- may manifest our faith and above all our gratitude towards “The Virgin of Guadalupe” whom we consider the mother of our nation.
It is said that 90% of the Mexicans are catholic and that a 100% of us are followers of Guadalupe. During the manifestation of the traditions of love towards the Virgin it can clearly be perceived that the Virgin of Guadalupe is the mother of everyone and especially of the natives. As a matter of fact it is them who travel long distances most fervently in order to arrive in front of the Beautiful Lady who every day blesses their homes, their families, their lands, their animals…… their life.
It is documented that long before the arrival of the Spaniards the native already went on pilgrimages to Tepeyac in order to adore a deity representing fertility and which was considered the mother of the sun. The natives made offerings to her in order to being granted by her what was very important to them during the new cycle which was about to begin.
 After the arrival of the Spaniards thanks to the friars who were thoroughly observing the traditions of the natives, through the romantic story of the appearances of the Dark-skinned Virgin to San Juan Diego, the pilgrimage to the place where she appeared has been a tradition since the year 1590. With it we Mexicans give our testimony of believing in the appearance of the Virgin and her miracles. Besides Mexico City there is no other city like Puerto Vallarta where so many people attend the pilgrimages.
For 12 consecutive days during different hours one by one all the businesses, companies, institutions, organizations, associations and people in general take their turn to go on the pilgrimage through the streets of the city until arriving at the main church of the city which was built precisely in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
 For the majority the pilgrimage is a serious opportunity to show our Mother the magnitude of our gratitude for all the favors, either asked for or not, that She has granted us. Therefore in all cases no investment of time, money and efforts is spared in order to organize and carry out a pilgrimage filled with manifestations of love towards the Virgin. Everyone who participates in a pilgrimage prepares himself with anticipation to assist in the same uniforms, carrying amongst other things one or various signs with a message of love and gratitude towards the Virgin. All the pilgrims are carrying candles or lamps, are burdened with the offerings which will be made upon arriving at the altar of the Virgin. Pilgrimages cannot be complete without the dancers who in many cases are members of the pilgrimage group. They have prepared themselves for months in order to dance without rest, dressed in costumes from our ancestors. Many pilgrimages also include a military-style band as an essential part of the pilgrimage, marking the pace of the pilgrimage with the booming of the drums. If the budget allows it a spectacular allegoric car is also included where some children and teens dressed in allusive clothes represent the moment of the appearance of the Virgin to San Juan Diego. Some pilgrimages are even more splendid, when they are accompanied by one or various mariachi groups in charge of sounding the different praises that all the pilgrims are singing to the Virgin while advancing. The highlight is when the pilgrims enter the church singing “La Guadalupana” with an intense voice whereas the most sublime moment of the pilgrimage is represented by a man or a woman when they open their arms and with tears in their eyes, fall down on their knees rendered in front of the love of the Dark-skinned Mother who seems to see them and caress them with her most beautiful eyes. It is for this precise moment that millions of pilgrims all over Mexico have prepared for during a long time. During the pilgrimages scenes and moments can always be observed where real love and understanding towards the fellow man is manifested in diverse and miraculous ways.
No other religious tradition offers the opportunity to observe and perceive such fervor in the same way. All of this is accompanied by an intense colorful scene, manifesting the joy of singing to our loving and kindhearted Mother who is always keeping a watch over all of us her children.
 Throughout the years little by little it has been observed in Puerto Vallarta that each time there are more foreign visitors and residents joining the pilgrimages to adore the Virgin. During this major event there are no differences of any kind. There, walking on the street, we are all grateful followers of Guadalupe, we are all singing, accompanying each other side by side, vibrating with an indescribable emotion while giving thanks for the well-being of our family and the life given to us by the Virgin as a gift.
There is nothing in the world more electrifying than entering into the church and seeing how the Virgin in front of the altar receives her thousands of children singing to her and asking her that she may always continue to protect them in her lap.
Thank you kind Mother of God and Mother of mine.
The Editor
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com |
Current
Weather Report
