Pay Homage To La Virgen de Guadalupe With These Adorable Gifts

12 December 2018 Culture

December 12th is a special day for the people of Mexico. It’s a day to celebrate La Virgen De Guadalupe, also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. To understand the importance of December 12th, we must look back at the history of the “Virgen Morena.”

It all started with an indigenous man named Juan Diego, who was passing the hill of Tepeyac (what is now Mexico City) and saw a vision of the Virgin Mary. Surrounded by a body halo, the Virgin asked for a shrine to be built in her name at the place where she stood, Tepeyac Hill. When man told the bishop about the apparition of the women and her request, he was presented with skepticism and was asked for a sign to prove the apparition.

On Decemeber 12, the Virgin reappeared to Juan Diego and told him to gather flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill. While the hilltop was normally barren, Diego found Castilian roses. He took the roses to the bishop of Mexico, Zumarraga, and when he opened his cloak, dozens of flowers fell to the floor, revealing the image of the Virgen of Guadalupe. Fun fact: the cloak or tilma inside with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe is on display at the Basilica de Guadalupe.

Centuries later, thousands gather across the States and Mexico to celebrate La Virgen De Guadalupe’s birthday on December 12. Now, to help pay homage to one of Latin America’s most profound religious figures, we’ve rounded up a few Virgen De Guadalupe-inspired gifts you’ll want to add to your holiday wish list.