The Virgin of Guadalupe - a busy time in Zihua

For the past week the locals, with many of us as interested onlookers, have been partaking in the celebration of the religious holiday that culminated yesterday, December 12th. This is the anniversary of the day when the Virgen de Guadalupe made an appearance to a peasant near Mexico City. Ever since then, Mexico has been honoring this religious icon in favor of Jesus Christ who the remainder of the Roman Catholic world idolizes as the icon of it's faith. Some how this seems right in Zihuatanejo, named originally Zihuatlan, or place of women.

All year long, jewellery, tee shirts, pins, paintings, lacquer wear, plastic bags and statuettes are on display all with the characteristic sunrays radiating from around the image of the beautiful virgin. But it is in the first 2 weeks of December when the whole country seems gripped by all things related to the Virgen de Guadalupe. The image appears everywhere and on everything!

Each night, processions of faithful of all ages, grouped together by neighborhood, family or employer carried beautiful floral displays in honor of the Virgin. Chanting the same song with accompanying music, and carrying candles the processions all walk slowly through town to the church where the floral display is left.

We live only a block away from the church where the ultimate celebration occurs, so last evening, before supper, we all headed over to watch the event unfold. We are drawn by the song, the fireworks and the families, each with their children proudly dressed for the occasion in traditional peasant garb. Each little boy has a tiny mustache and sideburns proudly painted on and each little girl is the epitome of beauty with long braids and ribbons, earrings and necklaces of shiny beads.

The final hours of the celebration build to a crescendo when the giant firecracker laden pinwheels are lit and the city is shaken by one blast of fireworks after another.

This also coincides with the start of the busy season, it marks the final days before the hoped for onslaught of tourists from the north begin and it is as if the town is saying "Wake up...we're ready" bring on the season!