Mexican Holydays part 2
Hello again, I decided to divide mine article in 2 parts, I did it for the reason that the following 3 parties are of great importance in Mexico and are held throughout all the nation. This parties are religious or civil character with high esteem in the people of Mexico for years (centuries in fact) and although all are invited to enjoy them, respect is recommended.
Rank # 3 Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe: When? This celebration is held on December 12 of each year and begins what many Mexicans call the "Guadalupe Reyes" which are the holidays that start with the Virgin of Guadalupe and ends with the day of the three Magi(Reyes Magos in spanish).There are parties all the days, Carols, New Year, Christmas, reheated food, piñatas very night, etc.). Where? It takes place around the country with masses, block parties, festivals in all cities, churches, fairs, etc.. but where is carried out with more passion is in "La Villita" in Mexico City where the sanctuary where is the St. Juan Diego's cloak and you can see the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
What's the occasion? (as origin)Historians narrate it started at the first days of December 1531. Diego Juanda walked down the hill of Tepeyac when the Virgin appeared to him. She requested the construction of a temple to his name in that place.
Juan Diego went to the bishop of Mexico City to tell what happened. The bishop did not believe him and demanded a proof of the appearance. Juan Diego went back to the hill and he saw the Virgin again. She heard from the proof that was required so she flourish all around the hill, was a very cold winter so that the flowers were not present in this time of year. Juan Diego took as many roses as he can and put all in his cloak. Juan Diego went to see the bishop again, saying he had proof he wanted. The bishop did not believe him and demanded to see proof, when Juan Diego showed the roses he carried in his cloak, show to the same time the painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe that had been painted by roses. Being this the first recorded miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico.
Since then, the Virgin of Guadalupe had accompanied Mexico in every happy or sad moment. Are many examples about her importance in the national history, like; a banner with the Virgin of Guadalupe was the first rebel flag that was used in the Mexican Independence, "The Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe" that was the name of knighthood that was created during the brief Mexican empire, the first president elected after independence changed his name to "Guadalupe Victoria" becuase he wanted to show "honor the mexican faith and the glory to the independence", in the first consttucion of Mexico's law states that "every December 12 celebrate to Our Lady of Guadalupe."
Why go there? A large crowd attends every year on December 12 to visit the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Basilica in Mexico city, where is the cloak of Juan Diego. Thousands of people from all cities gather to celebrate, "Las mañanitas" are sing (a traditional mexican song tha we use in every birthday), groups dance through all the day, offerings are show, many people sing or participate in the Mass in her honor. Undoubtedly, this festival has become part of the Mexican identity. The Guadalupe shrine is visited that day by more than 5 million people. The celbration began around 7:00 hrs and end around 23:00 hrs.
Here is a video where you can watch the crow singin "las mañanitas" in the shrine of Guadalupe. Remeber, Mexico is a catholic country, but all the mexican faith is in the Virgin of Guadalupe. Even the pope John Paul II said "Mexico is not Christian, Mexico belongs to the Virgin of Guadalupe".
Rank # 2 Day of the Dead:When? This celebration is held on November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls' dead) each year without fail. Where? There are celebrations througt all the nation including also celebrated in some Central American countries as well as in Mexican neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada or where a Mexican or Central American communities are . So there are many ways to celebrate this special day but the most famous place is the state of Michoacan.
What's the occasion? (as origin) The origins of the celebration of Day of the Dead in Mexico is before the arrival of the Spanish. Are records about ethnics celebrations in Mexico like the Mayas, Purepechas, Aztecs and Totonacas. The rituals that celebrate the life of the ancestors in these civilizations are made from at least three thousand years ago. When the Spanish came to America in the sixteenth century brought their own Day of the Dead celebrations. To convert the natives of the new world led to a syncretism that blended european and prehispanic traditions, matching the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls with similar festival in Mesoamerica, creating the current Day of the Dead. Why go there? Mexico is a country rich in culture and traditions, one of the main aspects that make up its identity as a nation is the concept we have about death and all the traditions and beliefs that revolve around it. In a ceremony held in Paris, UNESCO honored the Day of the Dead as Heritage of Humanity. On this date in cemeteries, schools, public gardens, cultural intituciones and houses are decorated with offerings to the dead. The belief is that for a magical night living and the dead coexist for a while. Everything has its symbolism (flowers, colors, bread, etc..) And is common to see people give "skulls" of sugar with names of their loved ones to give good luck. Is also typical to give "Calaveritas" (or little skulls) that are literary composision with humor, all are about the death dealing with the souls. The mexican death (La Catrina) is not to scare but the opposite is to accept the fact of death as natural. This celebration is totally to be opposite of a funeral; full of color and joy. Music, fireworks and banquets are served with joy to receive for one nigth those who "no longer are, just gone." For the Mexican culture is the reunion of their ancestors and their cultural identity through their older roots. Also consider that it is one of the oldest celebrations in the world. Perhaps it is the party with most world renowned had Mexico; you can find references to this celebration in various artistic works, an example are: The story told in the novel Under the Volcano of Malcolm Lowry, is staged in Mexico during this day. In the computer game Grim Fandango, Manny Calavera's character lives in the land of the dead and should take a long adventurous journey to reach the break, and includes many visual and thematic references to the celebration. The climax of the movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico is in the middle of a parade during the Day of the Dead. The novel Days of the Dead by Barbara Hambly, develops a Day of the Dead, in 1835. In the novel The Tree of Halloween by Ray Bradbury, the characters contemplate the way in which the Day of the Death is celebrated. The movie The Crow: City of Angels, the plot is handled during the Day of the Dead. The animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera has a special chapter devoted to Day of the Dead. In this video you can watch just a little about this magical celebration. Rank # 1 National Independence Day. When?It takes place which is 15th and 16th September of each year, but there are several previous celebrations around all the country. Where? Practically all over the country, the streets are filled with the colors of the mexican flag, sellers of flags are placed at each corner, we arrange the home, the schools, restaurants and hotels with patriotic motives. Where he spends most of the action is in the large cities (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey) with the capitals of the states where the parties are in the public square, but everywhere you can find either at home, bars, restaurants, neighborhoods, streets, etc. What's the occasion? (as origin) As its name implies, this celebration is to mark the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence that occurred with the "Grito de Dolores". The history tells that on the morning of the 16th of september in 1810, the priest Don Miguel Hidalgo called to a service in his church in the town of Dolores in Guanajuato and tell to the crowd "Down with bad government," insisting to take up the weapons and fight. The first time that was helded the celebration was in 1812, in the middle of the war!. It was in Huichapan, the Gral. Ignacio Lopez Rayon made a parade with his army. The following year, in 1813, Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon (an importan freedom fighter) included in the firts constitution the commemoration of September 16th. While the introduction of the nigth celebartion in September 15th was in mid-nineteenth century. Why go there?Is the Mexican party in it's peak. The best of our culture, traditions, food, music and drinks make an appearance in their best presentations (a thing to eat some tacos any day, other to eat tacos specially prepared for the festival), is hard to find another electrifying atmosphere in any Mexican celebrations, not for nothing is our greatest civic holiday around our schedule and is called the "Fiestas Patrias".The festivities begin before 15th with marches, pre parties, plays, paintings, concerts, bullfights, rodeos, almost everything for the celebration.The day September 15th Mexicans all world meet in various points to celebrate and "Dar el Grito". The festivities start early with concerts in the streets, gastronomic shows, prehispanic rites in certain cities, shows made by volunteers, all stops around 11:00 PM where from balconies, public squares, streets, private homes, bars, hotels, restaurants and any place with mexicans Mexican; then either the president, governor or the host of the party will give the typical discourse that is shout the name of each mexican heors or heroin and people will respond with a loud "VIVA" so until yell "VIVA MEXICO" 3 times. In the last call all the bells are rung, fireworks are released and everyone celebrate big hugs meanwhile the national anthem is singing. The party continued with dancing, food and drink the wholesale and often ends late into the night.The next day (September 16th) is carried out several military parades throughout the country, the largest parade will be held in Mexico City with the presence of the Air force, the Mexican army and navy of Mexico; it is tradition to close the parade the National confederation of Charros with a large sample of their skills. In this video you can wath the firework in Mexico City in the night of 15th (yes, the mexican flag in the Zocalo is one of the biggest tha we have). And in this video you can see what is a Charro.
