The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-01-30
INDIANS MAKE
PILGRIMAGE TO
HOLY SHRINE

GUADALUPE, Mexico, Dec. 20.
BY MaiD Fifty thousand Indians
from all parts OF Mexico have just
completed their week OF homage 10
their patron saint the Virgin OF Quad
alupe and their pilgrimage to the
shrine OF the Virgin here, as sacred
journey as ever was made by Mo-
hammedans to Mecca or Hindus to
the river Ganges.
/ This ceremony marks the 3SSth
anniversary of the traditional divine
manifestation which resulted in the
conversion to Christianity OF virtu-
ally all Indians in Mexico and led to
the erection here Of magni icenf
cathedral, several chapels and the
shrine. It has been week Of prayer.
church-going and fiesta for the In
dams.
| The incident from which the cere-
mony hade its origin transpired. ac-
cording to tradition, in 1881 when
an Indian Is said to have met on the
present cite Of Guadalupe village the
apparition Of the Blessed Virgin who
imprinted her image upon the cloth
jerkin 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 strange combine
ltion of devotion and unbridled hilar-
| ity on the part of the Indians. Guada-
llupe 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 burros for
hundreds of miles come bringing
their tiny charcoal stoves upon which
they cook their smelly food and for
a bed curl themselves into d blank
ct and sleep on the ground. At least
10000 of them were scattered pveI
the spacious plazas and hills OF tn
opening night when the ceremonies
began with d midnight mass.
The shrine at the top of the hill
marks the spot where the divine man
Hesitation is said to have taken place
IL reached over rude pathway stud
ded with rocks and winding round
the hill. Up this roadway -trudge the
natives singing their weird incanta-
tions and carrying offerings OF
fruits, flowers and animals to the
Virgin. A few Of the more devo'
cling to the custom of two centuries
ago by crawling to the shrine on
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 turbulent carnival and in
dulge In their favorite stimulant,
pulque.
There are tents for gambling, one
of which is at the entrance to the
gate to the cathedral enclosure. Food,
drink and souvenirs are sold at
countless stalls. There is a "medi-
cine man" who astounds his specta-
tors by changing blue cloth to
red one and there are merry-go-
rounds, pick-pockets and foreigners
with clicking cameras. At night, or
chestras drone Indian melodies and
the natives dance and sing.
This alternating worship and mer-
ry-making is continued for week
and then the groups disperse and the
Indians start for home, leaving this
little village again to.its year of SER
entity to await another Guadalupe
Day"