The image of La Virgen has been around me as early as I can remember. Living in a catholic household I was surrounded by her imagery and the same translated over when I stepped outside. She was sculpted outside of church halls and had murals painted over walls. More personally, the image of her brings me comfort and strikes feelings of familiarity whenever I see her.
Chicano communities widely embrace La Virgen and my community does the same. Every year during the month of December my mother hosts rosarios in our home where she invites neighbors and close friends to pay homage and respect to La Virgen. She arranges her altar and lines it with pots of flowers and veladoras and the neighbors come in with their flowers to offer and present them to her.
In my home the image of La Virgen is treated with respect even her portrait can be found in each of our rooms with flowers just beside her. My grandpa praises her the most so much so that once he wakes in the morning he goes over to his dresser and prays over her image with a rosary in hand.
La Virgen represents everything good within my home and the image of her alone is enough to bring me a form of peace.
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