The Virgin of Guadalupe

Now I'm going to tell you about a relevant figure in Mexican culture, The Virgin of Guadalupe, which plays a significant role in everyday life of Mexico: we can see her on the streets, in houses, in cars, just everywhere! Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patron Saint of America, and especially of Mexico. Her face looks Indian, which is why she is named Morenita. This name refers to the Spanish word 'moreno' that states for dark skin and hair. The figure of Juan Diego on his knees, the Aztec who had a relevation, can be seen in her eyes. 

According to the legend, Our Lady of Guadalupe asked Juan Diego for building a temple in her honor on Tepeyac Hill where she revealed to him. The Indian decided to seek Juan de Zumárraga, the archbishop of Mexico City, to tell him what had happend. The archbishop ordered him to go back to Tepeyac Hill, and ask the Lady for a miraculous sign that would prove the revelation. The Virgin told Juan to pick flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill, which was normally infertile, especially in December. Juan followed her instructions and found the flowers that released a type of roses which didn´t exist in Mexico. The Virgin arranged the roses in his tilma (agave cloth) and when Juan Diego opened it before archbishop Zumárraga, the flowers fell to the floor, and there was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Juan’s clothing.

There is a cultural syncretism between two religions: Aztec and Christian. There is a connection between the Aztec goodness of the Earth named Tonantzin which means "our mother" and the worship of the Lady of Guadalupe. Her temple was situated on the very same Hill of Tepeyac where nowadays is located the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which constitute the greatest sanctuary in the world. The last time when the revelation to Juan Diego took place was on December 12th, 1531, which has become a feas day in the Catholic Church.

The history of the national emblem of Mexico

This time, I want to tell you some basic but noteworthy information about the national emblem of Mexico. I decided to share it with you because there is a very significant Aztec legend related to this emblem.
The national flag of Mexico consist of three vertical strips: green, white and red. Unfortunately, there is no official symbolism of colors. In the middle of the white strip, there is the national emblem which represents the eagle devouring the serpent and sitting on the opuntia, which is located on the islet situated on Lake Texcoco.

According to the legend, the Aztec god named Huitzilopochtli ordered the Aztecs to find the eagle on the opuntia and found their city there. Thus, the Mexica people (commonly known as the Aztecs) set off from the mythical land called Aztlán and began their search for the sign. Finally, around 1323, they arrived to the Anahuác Valley, where they saw the eagle sitting on the opuntia. That's where they founded their capital city, Tenochtitlan, the present Mexico City!

Until today, there are Aztec ruins in the heart of this enormous city. There is also a monument  built six centuries later, which comemorates this legendary place, where the eagle devouring the serpent was found!