I grew up in a Catholic household my entire life, and by the age of two years old, I was already baptized. Throughout my life, La Virgen de Guadalupe was very much integrated into my everyday being. As young as I can remember, every family member’s house I visited always had a small figurine of the Virgen surrounded with candles, rosaries, and even pictures of lost loved ones. My grandparents created an alter for the Virgen de Guadalupe in their bedroom that has a Virgen statue and a cross with God in the middle to have a sacred space for prayers, and above all, to pay their respects. During my childhood, I would visit my great-grandma in Los Angeles frequently, and on the ride there as I would look out the window, I would always see murals and paintings of the Virgen on the walls of corner mini markets, restaurants, etc., there wasn't an empty wall without art. I was always amazed by the detail and the colors but I didn’t comprehend the importance just yet. However, as I got older, I realized the immense impact La Virgen de Guadalupe has amongst the Mexican community. One memory I do have as a teenager is going to La Placita Olvera on the 12th of December para la celebracion de La Virgen. They decorated with vibrant colors all over, and the painted mural was as visible as can be, you couldn't miss it. They also had hundreds of flowers placed in front of La Virgen mural, and it was such a beautiful scenery. Before the start of the celebration, my grandma cut majority of her hair off as an offering to La Virgin de Guadalupe. Later that day, we went to La Placita Olvera and started with misa. Following misa, we went to sing with the Mariachi to the Virgen for the remainder of the night to celebrate. Although I grew up surrounded by La Virgen de Guadalupe constantly, I think I’ve now grown apart from the heavy religious point of view that perhaps older generations hold, but regardless of that, I still feel and know that I carry a sacred connection with La Virgen de Guadalupe.
No comments:
Post a Comment