What are traditional Mexican religious pilgrimages?

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From medieval times until the present day, Christians have made pilgrimages to holy places, churches or sites where saints are said to have appeared or where miracles are believed to have taken place. Because Mexico is a Catholic country, a large majority of the population makes religious pilgrimages each year to locations in Mexico where the Virgin Mary or one of the saints is believed to have made an appearance. These places include Mexico City, Jalisco, Chalma, Oaxaca, and San Juan de los Lagos, as well as San Miguel de Allende and San Cristobal de las Casas.

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Every year in Mexico, there is a special week called Holy Week, or in Spanish, Semana Santa, which is the week before Easter. This is the most important time for the Catholics of Mexico to make their pilgrimages. People visit churches and shrines and attend special masses. There are also processions which dramatize Jesus’ final days and his being taken down from the cross after his crucifixion. In some places people imitate the crucifixion or practice self-flagellation, hitting themselves with whips or ropes, to commemorate Jesus’ suffering. Many of the pilgrims also make part of the journey crawling on their knees to show their penitence and their devotion. Many come with a special request for Jesus or the Virgin Mary.

There is a special day in the year when people make a pilgrimage to Mexico City. This is on December 12, which is the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Millions of people come either barefoot or crawling to the Basilica of Guadalupe. They believe that the Virgin can cure illness and addiction. The Virgin is said to have appeared at that spot in 1531 and is believed to have spoken there to the bishop, Saint Juan Diego, in his native Nahuatl language. It is said that she told him to build a church on that spot. Her image then appeared on an apron to prove that she was there. The yearly pilgrimage of Guadalupe is quite spectacular. Many streets are closed to allow the large procession to pass by. People dress up in all their finery and carry candles, offerings and banners. There are parades with floats which depict the Virgin of Guadalupe appearing to Saint Juan Diego.

Accompanying the processions are colorfully dressed dancers called Matachines, who follow a very old Mexican tradition of devotional dance. Their distinctive costumes combine a mask and a crown of feathers, ribbons and mirrors. The dancers wear rattles on their wrists and ankles. This creates a hypnotic rhythm that increases the religious fervor of the pilgrims.

There are many other smaller pilgrimages in Mexico. For example, the native Huichol people travel 400 kilometers on a pilgrimage that goes to a number of different holy sites. They sing and dance along the way and play music for their deities. They believe that this assures them good health and prosperity for the coming year.

When Mexicans go on pilgrimage they usually take the entire family. They travel slowly so as to make it easier for the older relatives and the very young children to keep the pace. They usually sing, play music and recite prayers along the way. Sometimes a car or a truck accompanies the pilgrims and carries food and other supplies. When they finally get to the pilgrimage site, the shrines often have a special wall where the pilgrims can hang personal items, such as pictures or notes. This is done to show their devotion, make a request or give thanks for a miracle.

Resource by A.Moore

I just moved to Michigan from South Carolina. This is my first winter here and so far it's freezing. I enjoy traveling, drawing, camping, writing, and doing community service in my spare time. I work for a education company and help them with their outreach to teachers and students. Hope everyone enjoys my articles.

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