Our Lady of Guadalupe Day is a Roman Catholic feast celebrated in Mexico December 12.
It is dedicated to the patroness of Latin America.
Although it is widely marked throughout the country, it is not a public holiday.
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a title of the Virgin Mary associated with a pictorial image held in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego near the hill of Tepeyac in December 1531.
She spoke to him in his native language and told him to request the bishop to build a chapel in her honor.
The archbishop of Mexico City did not believe Juan Diego and told him to ask the woman for a miraculous sign to prove she was indeed the Mother of God.
On December 12, Juan found Castilian roses blooming near the hill and brought them to the archbishop in his cloak.
When he opened the cloak, the roses fell on the floor and the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe could be seen on the fabric.
A shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe was constructed at the foot of the hill in 1532.
A rich shrine was erected in 1622.
The present-day church was build in 1709 and was designated as a basilica in 1904.
In 1910, the Virgin of Guadalupe was declared patroness of Latin America. 36 years later, she became patroness of the Americas.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the recognized symbol of Mexican Catholics.
