Mexico celebrates every February 2, very specially on the day of the Virgen de la Candelaria, the feast of Jesus’ presentation in the temple and the purification of Our Lady after childbirth. Throughout the country, various traditions reflect that day the deep faith of the Mexican people.
Dress the Child God
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According to the ancient custom of the people of Israel, forty days after the birth of a firstborn, it had to be taken to the temple of Jerusalem for its presentation. This practice is reflected in the Christian celebration of the presentation of the Lord in the temple.
In Mexico, families that placed a “Bethlehem” or “manger” with the representation of the birth of Jesus during Christmas, make an additional celebration on February 2. In it, they wear the Child Jesus with special clothes and take him to the temple to be “presented” and blessed.
This year, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City explained the meaning of this tradition in an article, indicating that it is a way of “lifting ‘the child of the Bethlehem manger, presenting it before the temple, as his parents did, his parents, It is asking God to make us children as he one day was and have the humility, simplicity and joy in the same way that a child enjoys life. ”
Therefore, he recommended that the “dress or clothes with which we will take our child, must be consistent with the age it represents.” He also asked to avoid putting “rare costumes or clothes”, such as those that represent saints or professions, a practice that has become popular in recent years.
Processions
When a sanctuary is dedicated to the purification of Mary or the Virgen de la Candelaria, the celebration acquires the character of the employer party. An example of this is the Mexican state of Jalisco, where thousands of pilgrims are heading to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos.
Also in the municipality of Tlacotalpan, in Veracruz, They are done Great processions in honor of the Virgin, making it one of the most emblematic places for this holiday.
In the Basilica of Our Lady of the Candelaria in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, It takes A procession with the “Childpan”, an image of the Child Jesus very venerated by the community.
Blessing of candles
In some temples, this celebration is used for the blessing of candles. According to researcher José Íñigo Aguilar Medina, in an article published in 2020 in The website of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), they “present candles and candles to be blessed, so that the family turns them on throughout the year in case of any need.”
The thread of kings and the tamales
On January 6, with the solemnity of the Lord’s epiphany, it is traditional to eat the thread of kings, a bread with a doll of the child God hidden inside. As explained in a video, Fr. José de Jesús Aguilar Valdés, deputy director of Radio and Television of the Archdiocese of Mexico, this symbolizes how “Mary and José hid the Infant Jesus to save him from the Matanza de Innocents ordered by King Herod”.
In Mexico, who finds the child God in the thread of Kings has the responsibility of buying and sharing tamales on February 2, on the day of the Candelaria.
This tradition has turned the holiday into a special occasion to gather family and friends around a table with tamales and atole, strengthening community and family ties.
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.