December 12 marks one of Mexico’s most fervent religious holidays—celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Queen of Mexico. However, the story of Guadalupe, especially for many Indigenous and rural Mexicans, transcends mere religious iconography. Guadalupe is not just another manifestation of the Virgin Mary; she is La Morenita, the Queen of Mexico and protectress of all Mexicans.
The story begins with Juan Diego, an Indian born in 1475. In December 1531, while on his way to Mass, Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill, a site sacred to the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. The Virgin appeared to him and instructed him to tell Mexico’s Archbishop, Juan de Zumárraga, to build a church on the hill. After multiple challenges, including his uncle’s illness, the Virgin performed a miracle by healing Juan Diego’s uncle and revealing her name.
However, questions arise around the name “Guadalupe.” The word “Guadalupe” cannot be pronounced or written in Nahuatl, the language of Juan Diego and his people. Some scholars believe the Virgin actually called herself te quantlaxopeuh, which is more accurately pronounced in Nahuatl. The name “Guadalupe” could have been a misinterpretation by Spanish speakers unfamiliar with the native language.
For centuries, many people didn’t even know about the Virgin of Guadalupe. The Indigenous population referred to her as Tonantzin, a name derived from their pagan traditions, which the Spanish clerics disapproved of. It wasn’t until 1648, when Miguel Sánchez’s “Imagen de la Virgen María de Dios de Guadalupe” was published, that the Virgin’s story began to gain theological and popular recognition. Sánchez’s writings sparked renewed interest in her, both among clergy and the common people, emphasizing the Virgin’s unique status and linking her to Mexican identity.
The appearance of Guadalupe, distinct from other Marian apparitions, became a symbol of independence from Spanish religious influence. Her image helped unify the criollo population, who saw her as a figure that represented their separation from peninsular Spaniards. Over time, the Virgin of Guadalupe came to symbolize Mexico’s emerging national identity—its patria—an idea that took nearly three centuries to fully develop.
For many, Guadalupe is not just a religious figure but a cultural and spiritual center. On December 12, the faithful gather in rural villages across Mexico, lighting fires and offering prayers, honoring La Morenita as a nurturing, protective force that stretches beyond history and into the very soul of the nation.
When a campesino bids farewell saying, “May the dark Virgin cover you with her mantle,” they are invoking not just a blessing for the day but a deep, cultural bond to Mexico’s history, identity and destiny.
Based on a longer article written by former Reporter editor Allyn Hunt in 1994. To read that article, visit theguadalajarareporter.net.