December 12th is the feast day of Mexico's embodiment of the Divine Feminine, Our Lady of Guadalupe. She displays all Virgin Mary's traditional symbols from Catholic Spain, but is also clearly a brown-skinned, pregnant indigenous woman, thereby amalgamating imagery of pre-Conquest Mexico's Mother Earth goddess figures such as Tonantzin. Ten years after the brutal Spanish Conquest of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe arose from visions experienced in 1531 by Juan Diego, a recently converted, former devotee of Tonantzin.
Like other creations of syncretism, Our Lady of Guadalupe facilitated coexistence and seeming unity between two completely different cultures at odds with each other's world views, positions of power, and self-interests. Her dual origins could both buttress oppression and, conversely, symbolize resistance to it. She served both purposes over the centuries, often simultaneously.
My statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe came from Sacred Source many years ago. Just last year, I learned from blogging buddy Frank of Reluctant Rebel that celebrations of her feast day involve the making and display of luminaria. These simple lanterns, like Guadalupe herself, can embody very different meanings. Traditionally, they shed welcome light in the darkness of winter, while in modern-day celebrations, luminaria are often used to symbolize hope during a nation's darkest hours.
I placed two kinds of luminaria on the altar: glass votives through whose designs the candlelight glows . . .
. . . and traditional luminaria which I made from small paper bags, using not-so-traditional paper-punch cut-outs and multicoloured fibre-optic tea lights.
The altar cloth is also surrounded by red and gold poinsettia decorations because this beautiful plant is native to Mexico and Central America.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2024]
Very informative post. Lovely luminarias. Leon and I were on our way to South Carolina so we missed this year’s celebration in Peña Blanca which includes a procession down the street lined with “ferolitos” - small fires made with stacks of wood. The evening event ends with fireworks. It really is a cultural event.
ReplyDeletethe goddess of earth looks divine indeed with her humble and heartwarming gesture dear Debra
ReplyDeletei enjoyed the details ,very interesting
loved the luminaries both are so elegant
hugs and best wishes
Beautiful luminaria!
ReplyDelete...thanks for this information, peace!
ReplyDeleteI love your contemporary take on luminaria.
ReplyDeleteLove the paper bags with the fiber-optic tea lights.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The Catholic church I go to has a large Hispanic community. Their Guadalupe celebration lasts for several days, and when I went to mass last night their 'altar' (a life-sized icon with a backdrop in the colors of the Mexican flag surrounded by bouquets of flowers) was still in the front of the sanctuary.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I am not disappointed in this Altar ... it is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell the World is full of fairy tales !
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous -- Everything's a fairy tale in the end!
DeleteYou're right. Merry X mas !
DeleteThere are so so many traditions throughout Mexico and Central America that are basically pagan celebrations with the serial numbers haphazardly filed off and slapped on trappings of Catholoicism.
ReplyDeleteAnd ENTIRELY unrelated, I saw this today in Instructables and thought of you https://www.instructables.com/Easy-Christmas-Gnomes-Brownie-Bites/
Hello Bruce, Just today I made that joke about things sold out of trunks that are perfect except for a slight scratch on the serial number. I'm sure Debra will agree that it must be the full moon! -Jim
Delete@ bruce.desertrat -- Thanks for that link! Those "Christmas Gnome Brownie Bites" are just TOO cute! I will make them the next time I need to put together a Christmas goodies platter!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful. WE all need more light at this time of year. St Lucia's day was on Friday too.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful altar. I love everything behind Lady of Guadalupe, and all your meaningful added items and meanings.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful altar, as always. I love that you included the luminarias. Years ago I was traveling in Mexico and wanted a bandana to wear around my neck for some sun protection and evaporative cooling. I bought one at a market that was folded up and just showed a decorative border. When I unfolded it later it was a large image of Nuestra Dama de Gaudelupe. Well, obviously I couldn't wear that around my neck! I had to buy another, plainer one. She now hangs on one side of my altar bestowing blessings.
ReplyDeleteHello Debra, I feel sorry for that cherub who is holding up Our Lady. He looks like he is struggling a little, and is worried about dropping her.
ReplyDelete--Jim
The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is indeed a powerful example of cultural syncretism and the complexities it brings. Her unique depiction—combining elements of the Virgin Mary with indigenous symbolism—served as a bridge between Spanish colonial and native Mexican cultures. This blend allowed her to become a figure of devotion for both groups, facilitating a form of coexistence in a time of significant upheaval and conflict.
ReplyDeleteLovely blending of cultures :)
ReplyDeleteI like the point about the inherent contradictions and duality which is embraced and accepted.
This is a lovely altar.
ReplyDeleteA very illuminating post today!
ReplyDeleteI just posted my luminaria story in another comment somewhere(?). The street my family used to live on had an association that promoted luminaria. The passed out paper bags with sand and candles. Each house for six blocks had about 15 bags on the sidewalk. If someone didn't want to participate they were told to leave their bags on their porch and someone would come by and put them out.
ReplyDeleteLove the figure. Divine feminine indeed!
ReplyDeleteShe is a dear; every morning I hear a prayer to Our Lady of the Angels to protect us.
ReplyDeleteYou always amaze me with your beautiful and meaningful altars, Debra.
ReplyDelete