Like other communities across the nation, towns in the Lake Chapala area are winding up for one of Mexico’s  most fervently celebrated religious holidays, the December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Festivities honoring the nation’s religious patroness under way since December 4 will peak next Monday as throngs of the faithful gravitate to church services, religious processions and other special happenings heightened with earsplitting fireworks, lively music and bustling street fairs.

Many families customarily manifest their devotion to La Guadalupana by setting up picturesque shrines at the doorsteps of their homes. Centered around a cherished household image of the dark-skinned Virgin, the holiday altar is commonly adorned with Mexican flags, paper banners or streamers in the national colors (red, white and green), plants and flowers (particularly roses), candles, and strings of sparkling Christmas lights.

Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.