Roses and Candles

By Michele Flores

Every year on December 12, St. Helena Church sets up a tent in front of the altar of La Virgen de Guadalupe to pray the rosary and sing las mañanitas. It’s 4 am on Friday morning, still dark, not many people in sight, the weather isn’t pleasant, yet the tent is full of people with more to come. The altar is decorated with flowers and candles as always throughout the year.

It is an important day for most Catholics in Mexico and Latin America. It is the day of La Virgen de Guadalupe; she appeared to San Juan Diego in 1531. She was as a brown-skinned woman with indigenous features, which represents liberation from racism. She is Mexico’s patron saint and represents faith, motherhood, and protection.

The church staff are outside the tent welcoming and directing people towards the tent. They have a table set up with candles for you to buy. The priest is welcoming as well and uses a microphone to be sure people can hear him. The prayers are said both in English and Spanish. People continue to come in with more flowers and candles to set at the altar, they knee down and gesture the sign of the cross.

Being inside the tent, surrounded by a lot of other people doesn’t stop the cold. People are not only sacrificing the loss of sleep, but it takes a lot to stand in the cold for about two hours. The mass usually takes place inside the church. After the prayer to the rosary, the church staff announce they will be handing out atole and champurrado. Atole is traditional hot corn-based beverage from Mexico. It’s thick and creamy, piloncillo (unrefined sugar) for sweetener, spiced flavor of cinnamon and vanilla. Champurrado is another traditional warm drink from Mexico using the same ingredients except it is chocolate based.

The hot drink did keep us warm; it’s like having coffee in the morning but better. After handing out the drinks, they announced that they will also be giving out tamales and pan dulce. People enjoyed their drinks and food, waiting for the mariachi to arrive. Mariachis are a must when it comes to celebrating La Virgen de Guadalupe. The church is open for everyone even before the mass but mainly everyone was under the tent, showing dedication and respect towards La Virgen de Guadalupe.

I took the opportunity to speak with the Pastor Jorge Ramirez, I asked how would you explain the meaning of La Virgen de Guadalupe to those who don’t know her?

He explains that La Virgen de Guadalupe is like a mother to all, who will protect us like most mothers would.

 

The mariachis arrived at 5:15 am, the crowd doubled in size by this time. The flowers had to be placed outside the altar since there were so many. The candle table was lit. The mariachi began playing Las Mañanitas, the people recorded them playing, the priest continued to welcome people inside the tent, it didn’t matter how crowded it was.

By 5:45, the mariachi stopped playing, the staff announced that the mass will begin at 6 am, to start heading inside. There were people of many ages, from little kids to teenagers with backpacks on them. Many people had their bags, indicating they were heading to work or school. This tells us how important La Virgen de Guadalupe is to them.