Mexico

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is observed on December 12 each year. In 1999, his Holiness John Paul II –during his homily in a solemn Mass at the Guadalupe Basilica, his first trip to this sanctuary- proclaimed December 12 with the liturgical rank of Celebration for the Americas.

February 14 was marked as a festivity back in 1969, when the Roman Catholic calendar devoted this date to commemorate two Christian saints, one of them St. Valentine, martyred by Roman Emperor Claudius II.As the story goes, St. Valentine was sacrificed because he engaged in the labor of marrying couples after the emperor had already forbidden such practice. Seemingly, the Roman emperor believed married soldiers were not that good for fighting as single troopers were. Moreover, in ancient Rome, every February 15 for devoted to honor Lupercus, God of Fertility. Through the years, a range of legends and traditions have been bound together, and currently St. Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and lovers; a day to exchange messages and presents and gifts to show love and friendship to our loved ones.

For centuries, children have observed the Three Magi Day very much the same way like their grandparents did in the past. Every January 6 just before dawn, children wake up early in the morning looking for toys and gifts brought to them by the Magi. Emotions run high for all kids who have surely caught very little sleep and eavesdrop every bit of whisper, noise or sound, assuming it's the clanking of the camels reins and garners, just like in the story about the coming of the Three Magi.The next morning, the whole country is brimming with joyful and happy children brandishing their brand-new toys. This day cannot be any happier. Late at night, a family dinner among relatives and friends tops its all off. Even that day, as in almost all Latin American countries, children get their Christmas gifts.

Seemingly, this custom was adopted by the Roman Church and included it in the Epiphany or Twelfth Night Celebration, commemorating Jesus Christ’s revelations to the Magi. This celebration picked up steam in the Middle Ages and came to Mexico during the early stages of the viceroyalty. In Mexico, the Kings’ Doughnut used to be accompanied with chocolate, so merging once again European and indigenous traditions into each other. A doughnut is usually a ring-shaped roll of pastry. In Mexico, however, perhaps because of the increasing number of diners, doughnuts were little by little taking an oval shape to make it big enough for everyone to have a piece of it. Nobody knows exactly when the tradition of hiding porcelain God boy inside the Doughnut first began. As the legend goes, the one who finds the God boy instantly becomes his godfather. One of the new godfather’s many obligations consists of taking the God boy from the house where the Doughnut was cut out to the closest church to be blessed on February 2, known as Candlemas. According to some sources, there was an old habit in some Mexican locations of hiding either a ring or a thimble inside the Doughnut. The ring means wedding to the one who finds it, while the thimble finder will stay single for at least one year. Currently, the departure of the Kings’ Doughnut has helped to establish friendly ties among groups of workers since this tradition has spilled over the exclusive boundaries of family reunion. The Kings’ Doughnut tradition concludes with the Doughnut’s departure, though Candlemas day begins when the former celebration is over.

Pet Blessing is a tradition harking back to the early stages of colonial rule, egged on by the French monks. This ceremony takes place on January 17, the same day celebrating San Antonio Abad. This tradition is aimed at trying to remember the necessary balance between man and nature, chiefly with animals and pets. According to some San Antonio Abad’s biographers, amid the austere life he led through his earthly existence, he could unravel both divine knowledge and love through the observation of nature. Out of that revelation, Abad got used to blessing animals, pets and plants. After he died, his name is summoned to protect pets and other animals. This tradition brought by French Franciscan monks soon scattered all over the country. That’s the reason why every January 17, worshipers go to church with an animal or pet to be blessed.These animals or pets are decked out with flowers and ribbons, or any other garments their masters see fit for the occasion.

On February 24, anniversary of the Iguala Plan –signed by Agustín de Iturbid, Chief of the Three-Warrantor Army- has been officially declared the Day of the National Flag. The reason lies in the fact that this above-mentioned army was the first ever to hoist the three national colors, though at the time they were arranged in three diagonal stripes on the flag. Green means the hope of the people in the fate of its race. White stands for the purity of the ideals behind this cause, while red symbolizes all the blood shed by the homeland martyrs. Through the years, both the national flag and coat of arms underwent several changes and transformations. The three original colors, though, have never been changed. On February 5, 1934, authorities once again okayed the flag and coat of arms designs in order to avoid an incorrect representation. These designs were put away in the National General Archives. Strengthening the cult and respect toward national symbols has always been a top priority for the Mexican government. They clearly stand for the unity ties among all citizens over any particular or group difference. Therefore, those symbols must be honored and respected in homes, factories, schools, both in towns and rural areas, by all people living in this nation who are looking forward to being called Mexicans.