Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Today is the celebration of the the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The festivities begin around midnight with a serenade by groups of mariachis and other singers that is kicked off with Las Mananitas, the Mexican birthday song. The Virgin of Guadalupe has symbolized the Mexican nation since Mexico’s War of Independence. Both Miguel Hidalgo and Emiliano Zapata’s armies traveled underneath Guadalupan flags. The Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes once said that “…one may no longer consider himself a Christian, but you cannot truly be considered a Mexican unless you believe in the Virgin of Guadalupe.”

The major celebration in the New York City area is the arrival of the Antorcha Guadalupana. People gather in Central Park early in the morning and greet her as she arrives from the journey from the Basilica in Mexico City (the second most visited Roman Catholic shrine in the world) to New York and parade down Fifth Avenue to a splendid High Mass at St. Patrick’s cathedral. For more information go to http://www.tepeyac.org/antorcha/09/

The point of this annual pilgrimage is to unite Mexicans with Mexican/Americans who venerate her on both sides of the border as the patron saint. All along the route, people gather to pay homage and feed the standard bearers who are periodically relieved of their sacred assignment.

At Zarela our specials for the coming weekend will feature dishes created in the convents in the early days of the colony: chiles en nogada, mole poblano, caldo de camote (sweet potato soup), pollo con granada; tamales de clemole.

Nobel laureate Octavio Paz wrote in 1974 that “the Mexican people, after more than two centuries of experiments, have faith only in the Virgin of Guadalupe and the National Lottery”

To gain more detailed information about Our Lady of Guadalupe, pop over to Wikipedia.com/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe

December 12th is the big day for our Lady of Guadalupe. In fact if you turn your television to Channel 41 around 11:00PM tonight, December 11th, you will hear the magnificent serenade in her honor at the Basilica in Mexico City.

If you live in Los Angeles,you have a special treat. Alfredo Lopez, who I refer to in my article To Give and Get, is performing and collaborating on a magnificent theater piece on the Virgen of Guadalupe . (See below)

La Virgen de Guadalupe,
Dios Inantzin

December 10 & 11, 2009
7:30 PM
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

This beautiful play, performed in Spanish with music and dance, re-tells the story of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to the Indian peasant Juan Diego in the hills of Tepeyac. Because of its universal message of faith, love and perseverance, the pageant appeals to many people, regardless of race, language or religion. Renowned Mezzo Soprano Suzanna Guzman will sing the title role of La Virgen once again and Latino Theater Company members, professional musicians, Aztec dancers and a large community ensemble of children, youth and seniors complete the cast.

Featured in the New York Times & L.A. Times

Produced by: Latino Theater Company
Adapted from “Nican Mopohua”
by: Evelina Fernandez
Directed by: Jose Luis Valenzuela

Two performances available!
December 10 & 11 2009
7:30 PM
(Early arrival is highly recommended)

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Parking and transportation information

General Admission: FREE!
(Suggested Donation $5/person)
Reserved Seating $35/person
Discounted tickets available on goldstar.com
Preferred Seating for Face of the World ’09 Subscribers & Flexible Pass Holders