The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-01-23
INDIANS WORSHIP THE VIRGIN
or GUADALUPE
Come From All Over Mexico to Shrine
Bring Tiny Charcoal Stoves
With Them

Rev. W. ID. Turnkey of Fort Meade
sends us the following article says
that in 1855 Mr.. Bittinger and himself
visited Guadalupe and ate the best
pine apple he had ever seer sitting
on the edge Ct Santa Annals grave.
The article follows:
Guadalupe, Mexico, January.-Fif,
g. thousand Indians from all parts OF
Mexico have just completed their
week OF homage to their patron saint,
the Virgin of Guadalupe, and their
pilgrimage TO the shrine of the virgin
here. as sacred a journey as ever was
made by Mohammedans to Mecca or
Hindus TO the river Ganges.
This ceremony marks the 3SSth an
niyersary of the traditional divine
manifestations which resulted in the
conversion to Christianity OF virtually
All Indians in Mexico and led to the
erection here of a magnificent cathe-
dral. several chapels and the chime.
Il has been week of prayer, church
going and sifesta for the Indians.
The incident from which the cere-
money had its origin transpired ac-
cording to tradition, in 1881, when an
Indian Is said to have met on the pres
ent site Of Guadalupe village the APP
partition of the Blessed Virgin, who
imprinted her image upon the cloth
jelkin the Indian was wearing This
miracle so impressed the Indians that
a shrine was erected here. and later
the cathedral and chapels. Through
the succeeding centuries this has
been the Mecca to which nearly all
Indians of Mexico turn for one week
during the year.
The jerkin bearing the imprint is
still preserved in the shrine, encased
in silver, gold and gems.
Guadalupe day." as the celebra-
tion is called, is a strange combina-
tion of devotion and unbridled hilar-
ity on the part of the Indians. Guada-
loupe is within easy access from Mex
| leo City and the festival always at
tracts many foreign spectators from
the capital.
Thousands of the natives who have
jOurneyed on foot or with burrors for
hundreds of miles come bringing
their tiny charcole stoves upon which
they cook their daily food. and for
y bed curl themselves into blanket
and sleep on the ground. At least
10000 OF them We're scattered over
the spacious plazas and hills on the
opening night when the ceremonies
began with a midnight mass.
The shrine at the top of the hill
marks the spot where the divine man
Hesitation is said to have taken place.
Is reached over a rude pathway stud
ded with rocks and winding round the
hill. Up this roadway trudge the ma
tiyes singing their wierd incantations
and carrying offerings OF fruit,
flowers and animals to the Virgin a
few of the more devout cling to the
custom of two centuries ago by crawl
inc 10 the shrine OF hands and knees
with violent beating of arms and wild
lamentations
The ceremony of devotion complet-
ed, the Indians return to the village
and hold tubulent carnival and in
dulge in their favorite stimulant, pull
que.
There are tents of gambling, one
of which is at the entrance to the
gate TO the cathedral enclosure. Food,
drink and souvenirs are sold at count
less stalls. There is a medicine man"
who astounds his spectators by
changing a blue cloth to a red one.
aud there are merrygOrounds, pick
pockets and foreigners with clicking
cameras. At night orchestras drone,
Indian melodies and the natives dance
and sing.
This alternating worship and mer-
Ty-making Is continued for week,
and then the groups dispense and the
Indians start for home. leaving this
little village again to its year of Sc.
renity 20 await another "Gaudaloupe
day"
q SEVENTY-FlVE YEARS AGO