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Millions arrive to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe
El Universal
December 12, 2004
Devout pilgrims flooded into Mexico City in buses, on bicycles, piled
into cargo trucks and on foot on Saturday to pay homage to the nation's
patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe.
City officials estimated that at least 2.3 million visitors had arrived
by Saturday evening, and around 100,000 more were arriving hourly. Their
final destination was the Virgin's Basilica that houses the famous cloak
bearing her image, the nation's holiest relic.
One group of 200 arrived on bicycles from their village in the state of
Hidalgo, 60 miles (98 kilometers) away. The exhausted group had left late
Friday, and didn't make it until well into Saturday.
Thousands camped out in the streets leading to the Basilica, while vendors
sold all sorts of merchandise bearing the Virgin's image to the faithful.
Police activity in the area was increased to ensure order.
According to legend, the Virgin appeared to the Indian Juan Diego on Dec.
12, 473 years ago on Tepeyac Hill, which is now northern Mexico City.
Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul in 2002.
The multitudes of believers traditionally arrive on Dec. 11 to hold an
all-night session of praise and thanks to the Virgin.
Typical activities expected are the indigenous conchero dancers and the
Mañanitas vigil concert.
Musical artists Lucero, Lila Downs, Priscila y sus Balas de Plata (Priscila
and her Silver Bullets) and many more were scheduled to honor the spiritual
mother of Mexico through the night.
The massive flock of believers traditionally join in to to greet the Virgin
at dawn, with Las Mañanitas and other serenades and tunes, some
religious, others romantic.
The nation's devotion to the Virgin, also known as "the queen of
Mexico," has made the Basilica the world's most visited holy site
after Mecca, receiving an estimated 1314 million pilgrims annually.
© 2004 Copyright El Universal-El Universal Online
12/12/04 3:00 PM El Universal Online - Versión para imprimir
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/version_imprimir?id_nota=8309&tabla=miami
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