Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Feast of (United States)

December 12The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated by Roman Catholics in the southwestern United States, where the Spanish influence is still strong. At the pueblo just north of Taos, New Mexico, there is an impressive torchlight procession on December 12. At the Jemez Pueblo, matachines (clowns or buffoons) perform a variety of Indian ceremonial dances. At churches and plazas throughout New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona, such traditional Indian dances as the arc and arrow, gourd, braid, feather, palm, owl, and snake dances are performed on this day.
Several masses are held on this day at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Diego, California, where the mañanitas, or "good morning song," is sung to the Virgin Mary, and mariachis, strolling musicians, perform in the Virgin's honor.
CONTACTS:
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
2401 12th St. N.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87104
866-855-7902 or 505-843-7270; fax: 505-842-6959
www.indianpueblo.org
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
1770 Kearney Ave.
San Diego, CA 92113
619-233-3838; fax: 619-233-3252
www.diocese-sdiego.org
SOURCES:
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 490
IndianAmer-1989, pp. 300, 303
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