Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe – Virgins, Kids and Indigenous
Costumes Every 12th of December in Guatemala on the Día de la
Virgen de Guadalupe children throughout the country dress up in
colorful, traditional indigenous costumes and carry an image of
the Virgin of Guadalupe in local processions. Usually marimba
and hordes of traditional food stalls go with the festivities.
Originating in Mexico after the Spanish conquest, when the
Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to an indigenous peasant,
the custom continues throughout the Americas. In Antigua the
celebrations take place in front of the beautiful baroque church
of La Merced. Rustic mini-scenes backed by painted images of the
Virgin are set up in front of the church and parents pose their
children for photographers. Tiny replicas of adults, the boys
have mustaches painted on their faces and the girls little
baskets tied to their heads. Each scene has a variety of typical
Guatemalan everyday items for the children to use as props
including miniature marimb