Traditional Guadalupe festivities resumed even amid COVID protocols this year. The Dec 12th feast fell on a Sunday, so many of the families were gathered for Mass at
El Rancho Nazaret. All over Mexico the young boys and girls dress up as Juan Diego (called
Dieguitos) or as Our Lady of Guadalupe (called
Inditas, "little Indian girls). The Mexicans are particularly proud that the original miraculous image, which appeared to Juan Diego and the pastor of the parish, depicted Our Lady with dark skin and the features of an indigenas maiden.
After Mass the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe was filled with flowers by the families who attended that feast day.
Many of the children four, even five years old or younger had no memory of such colorful and loud, ear-startling, traditions. They were wide-eyed and thrilled by the pageantry.
Many of the children took part in the festivities for the first time only this year.
The
Matachines (traditional folkloric dance troop) brought color, sound, dance and reverence for Our Blessed Mother. They typically play their booming drums and dance before Mass, assist during the liturgy in silence and then pay a visit in the church or chapel after the priest's final blessing of the Mass.