Saint Nicholas Day
December 6th is the anniversary of the death Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara, on the southern coast of Turkey. Nicholas used his whole inheritance, from his wealthy parents to assist the needy. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made a Bishop at a young age. Bishop Nicholas was known for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors.The bones and relics of St. Nicholas now lie in Bari, Italy.
St. Nicholas’ Feast Day is widely celebrated in Europe. It is completely separate from the Christmas holidays. The celebration has kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. He visits many homes on Dec 5th/6th and leaves candy and gifts in the children’s shoes.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in San Miguel de Allende
December 12th is the feast of the – “La Inmaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria.†It is celebrated throughout Mexico as day of religious ceremony. Pilgrims visit the many sanctuaries around Mexico that are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. During this incredible spectacle, pilgrims walk in processions to the shrines carrying lighted candles and bearing floral offerings which are placed on the shrines.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary has been celebrated in Eastern Orthodox religions since the seventh century.
In 1476, it was established as a universal Catholic feast by Pope Sixtus IV.
According to Roman Catholic dogma, “The Immaculate Conception†is the conception of Mary, mother of Jesus, without any stain of original sin.
Original sin is regarded as the general condition of sinfulness or lack of holiness, into which human beings are born. It is different from any actual sins that a person may or may not commit after birth.
Mary was free from any personal or hereditary or ancestral sin. Her immaculate conception in the womb of her mother, Anne, by normal sexual intercourse, should not be confused with virginal conception of her son Jesus.
The dogma of the Catholic faith says that, from the first moment of Mary’s existence, she was filled with divine grace.
Divine grace is a gift from God of perfection, completeness, and flawlessness.
It is believed that Mary lived a life completely free of sin.
In San Miguel de Allende, the celebration is at or Church of the Nuns. There are processions to the Church with effigies of The Virgin Mary, A mass is said and then later that night, there is a large fireworks display.
Inmaculada Concepcion Las Monjas
Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12th is the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe “Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.†It is a religious festival and It is National Holy Holiday, held every year to honor The Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. She is also identified with the Aztec earth goddess and mother of human kind, Tonantzin. The feast, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, goes back 500 years to the sixteenth century.
Legend states that Juan Diego, a native Nahuatl, saw a beautiful, brown-skinned woman with a shining halo of rays. She was dressed in shades of rose, gold and blue.
She spoke to Juan Diego as the Virgin Mary. She told him to go the city and visit the Bishop and request a shrine be built in her honor. The shrine was to be built on the sacred temple site of Tonantzin (a pre-hispanic goddess) on Tepeyac Hill.
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego
Guadalupe appeared three times to Juan Diego and asked for her temple. Juan Diego was turned down three times by the Bishop. He wanted proof that the beautiful lady was truly the Mother of God. Guadalupe told Juan Diego to climb the Tepeyac hill and gather roses, which did not grow in the winter. He gathered the flowers and brought them to her. She placed them in his apron and told him to deliver them to the Bishop. As he dropped to his knees in front of the bishop and opened his apron, imprinted on it was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, exactly as Juan Diego had described her. In 13 days, a chapel was built for Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Mary’s (Guadalupe) appearance to Juan Diego was a powerful reminder that Mary and the God who sent her accept all peoples. Given the history of the cruel treatment of the Indians by the Spaniards, the vision was a admonishment to the Spaniards. It was an occasion of great importance to the indigenous people of Mexico. Today millions show their respect to her by making pilgrimages, on December 12th to the Basilica of Guadalupe, in La Villa de Guadalupe, in Northern Mexico City. The old Cathedral is built next to the new one.
The Old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
There are smaller celebrations in churches throughout Mexico. In the City of Mexico, La Villa de Guadalupe is a festival that draws enormous crowds. Dances from a wide variety of indigenous cultures are performed. Ephemera and religious art are plentiful.
