The Church Bells are Ringing in Puerto Vallarta
Cities across Mexico are celebrating the country’s, most colorful annual festival, El Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. December 12 also marks the 168th anniversary of the founding of Puerto Vallarta, which kicks the celebrations up a notch here in our city.
So much of what you can experience of a destination comes down to the timing of your visit, and the first 12 days of December is a great time to be in Mexico, as cities across the country celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Known in Spanish as El Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, this important religious and social festival commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian peasant and converted Catholic named Juan Diego on December 12, 1531.
According to legend, Juan Diego was walking on Tepeyac Hill, outside modern-day Mexico City, when he saw a vision: A pregnant Indian woman, clothed in a turquoise robe with bright stars, with rays of sunlight emanating behind her, her hands folded in prayer. She identified herself as “The Virgin Mary, mother of the one true God.”
Mary reappeared to Juan Diego over three days and told him, even though it was December, to gather flowers upon the hill. Juan Diego found a patch of Spanish roses, gathered them and dropped them before the bishop, revealing the image of Mary seared into his cloak. To this day, the cloth is on display in Mexico City at the Basilica of Guadalupe, which was constructed at the site of the miraculous appearance, and is the most visited Marian shrine in the world.
Here in Puerto Vallarta, the virgin is honored by the hundreds of local businesses, unions, neighborhoods, and organizations that participate in the pilgrimage to the city’s most iconic landmark, The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The candlelight processions generally start in front of Woolworth’s and go the 11 blocks down Juarez street to the Guadalupe church. Indigenous pagan and Christian rituals are mixed as young warriors dance in the streets commemorating the miraculous apparition, while others carry banners or colorful floats that usually portray the Virgin Mary and Juan Diego. Once the last procession reaches its destination, a special mass in devotion to Puerto Vallarta‘s revered patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, is celebrated.
The feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe is one of Puerto Vallarta‘s most beloved and popular annual celebrations. Baptisms, confirmations, first holy communions, and even weddings take place within the local community to coincide with this special and blessed date.
December 12, 2019, also marks the 168th anniversary of the founding of Puerto Vallarta so, after the religious ceremony, festive celebrations continue with parades, music, singing, dancing, fireworks and a plethora of street vendors selling everything from religious relics and traditional Christmas dishes to vacation souvenirs on the Malecón.
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Relax and experience the charm and culture of Puerto Vallarta with quaint cobblestone streets, the fragrant scent of Bougainvillea, beautiful beaches, Mexican cuisine, outstanding golf courses and a host of activities for everyone to enjoy!
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Our concierge services will personally contact you with information on activities, tours or spa services in the privacy of your own villa rental, to the best restaurants for dining out in Puerto Vallarta. We have the most current information to guide you for your holiday in Puerto Vallarta from our daily weather report to maps and directions.
For more information about renting a villa in Puerto Vallarta contact Casa Bay Villas at info@casabayvillas.com or call us at 203.386.8022.
We hope you will visit one of our featured vacation rental villas soon and experience the Magic of Puerto Vallarta!
Our mission at Casa Bay Villas is to exceed your expectations, listen to your needs and to assist you in selecting the best villa rental for your vacation in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.