NEW YORK — Dozens of Mexicans braved the cold that was felt in New York today to pay homage to the Virgin of Guadalupe, their country’s patroness, with ancestral rites, songs and even bicycles to commemorate today the 491th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin brunette to the Indian Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico.
“Long live Guadalupe!” “Long live Juan Diego!” “Lupita” devotees could be heard shouting during the events, which kicked off early with the arrival of the Guadalupana Torch race in Manhattan’s famed Central Park.
The devotion to their dark virgin, whose image came from Mexico, is passed on to their children, who accompanied them today on a day where they ask for favors or give thanks “for life, health, family, work,” according to devotees told EFE.
The Torchlight Race – which today celebrates its 20th anniversary and was attended by a total of 7,500 runners – started as every year from the Basilica of Guadalupe on September 4, accompanied by images of the Virgin and the Indian Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin, to whom he appeared on 12 September 1531 and who was canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.
After touring fourteen Mexican states, the Torch, the Virgin and Juan Diego crossed the border into the United States, as immigrants do, on Oct. 21 in Nuevo Laredo, Texas, and continued their pilgrimage until ending in New York , where this event was born. organized by the Tepeyac Association.
Fernando López was the one who proudly entered the park with the Torch. “When I crossed the border, I promised (the Virgin) that I would go to the Basilica. I’ve been here for 25 years and I haven’t gone. Since I can’t go, I receive her here. So, come and visit us,” López told EFE , who has been participating in the race for 17 years.
A total of 1,500 Mexicans ran in the final relay which brought the torch and images from New Jersey, where they spent the night, before tackling the final stretch, dressed in a red hoodie and a sign that read “20 Years of messengers for the dignity of a city divided by the border”.
An ancient Aztec dance received the virgin. “This dance has existed since before the conquest of Mexico. We are trying to save our Mexica tradition and we are here to honor our mother Tonantzin who existed long before what we know today,” said a dancer of the Calpulli Tletlpapalotzin (Mariposa de fire ) when referring to the term with which the Mexica (Aztec) culture and mythology designated various female deities.
After touching, kissing or kneeling in front of the images that paraded past Mexicans, the group left the park in a motorcade that took them to the United Nations, where the event concluded. The images will be taken to a church in Texas as it was the state that contributed the most people to the race, with 343.
The Mexicans who deliver food have also paid homage to their patroness in the way they earn a living: on bicycles, with which they have brought images of Guadalupana to the Mexican businesses that support them, starting with that of Javier González Amaya.
“I want to have her (the virgin) here, for people to see her,” said the 31-year-old from Puebla, who commented that his mother instilled in them faith in the dark-haired virgin, for which she thanks and God’s support which they gave him to establish himself as a trader.
Food vendors or “deliveristas” decorated their bikes with Christmas patterns and baubles, and some carried bags on their backs to carry hot food to their customers.
There they also heard “Viva Guadalupe” amidst the music and enthusiasm of the delivery men, some of whom took the day off to meet the “morenita” and ask about the family they left behind in Mexico and to accompany them on your work days. Many “deliveristas” have been killed by being run over or robbed in order to steal money and bicycles.
After a glass of hot cocoa and Mexican bread and the Episcopal priest Fabián blessing the activity and remembering the deliveristas who died, the group of cyclists set off amidst the music, presided over by Guadalupana.
