The Mexicans don't play around with throwing a party. It's an all out, all day, all night, ferris wheel and fireworks included kind of thing...at least that's how it is for the Virgin of Guadalupe today. Today is the fest day for the Our Lady of Guadalupe, that commemorates her appearance to the peasant Juan Diego. This morning there was a parade of the children, all dressed up as little Diegos or Lupitas, from the youngest little baby to kids around 7 or 8. They brought flowers to the church and received blessings. The party continues tonight with music and fireworks and if I understood our host, there will be a mass at 5am tomorrow morning. Right outside the church in the plaza is a giant market and carnival. Lots of games, things to buy, and yummies to eat.
As far as I can tell, there is not much of a line between the holy and the mundane. Venerate a saint and ride a speeding catapillar backwards all within the same squre block! Buy a ballon with an image of the virgin or of spongebob square pants. It was the same at the central square where I walked with my friend Diane last night. A sweet children's choir singing christmas carols in one corner of the church courtyard, clowns in another, and breakdancers in a third all with the back drop of the cathedral (and some giant balloon rocket things that the kids seem to love).
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