Sunday 18 December 2011

A Tropical Christmas


Feliz Navidad!.  

A familiar sight in anticipation of Christmas 
Vehicles with pictures of the Virgen de Guadalupe are seen guiding young people who run, walk, ride, roller skate from their community to a local shrine in a neighbouring community.  Often this involves many kilometers.. It is their way of showing love and worship for Our Lady of Guadalupe ( the Virgin Mary)   

Our Lady is officially proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church as the Patroness of Americas, Empress of Latin America and Protectress of the Unborn Children.

         Local homes are adorned with pictures and alters celebrating the Virgin.
According to Roman Catholic tradition, on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, a recently converted Aztec indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City

The shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world. 
"The Aztecs…had an elaborate, coherent symbolic system for making sense of their lives. When this was destroyed by the Spaniards, something new was needed to fill the void and make sense of New Spain…the image of Guadalupe served that purpose."[41] ( from Wikipedia)

Nativity Scene in Progreso...the manger is empty until
the Dec.24th candlelight evening procession 

from the nearby church 




Xmas Tree in front of the Municipal Building 
The entrance to one of the many universities in Yucatan...this one is in the Merida Centro.... All decked out with poinsettias and a nativity scene.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and are referred to as Noches buenas 

The children from the Free English School in Chuburna caroling outside our house... They sing at 5 houses and at each house we make sure there is an audience..so friends get together to enjoy the caroling and send the children off with candies and cookies for their party.  Certainly put us all in the Xmas spirit.
A view thru the gate at the local nursing home in Progreso... very peaceful



Manger in Chuburna 




Children waiting patiently in line
30 degrees at 6:00 pm and Santa arrives to give
Toys to over 600 children... 
Mucho ninos feliz ( many happy children)   






We have had an incredible 2011 and are blessed to have shared 
                    the journey with our family and friends   

        Feliz Navidad, Paz, Salud y Felicidad en 2012
             (Merry Christmas, Peace, Health and Happiness in  2012) 

Dorothy and Gord.











2 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas from Salmo! Thinking of you!
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, looks like lotsa Christmassy stuff going on there. Everyone looks so happy. What fun - have a Merry Christmas you guys .......
    Frank and Debra

    ReplyDelete