Festivity of Pátzcuaro’s Lady of Health
The month of December arrives and in Pátzcuaro we automatically think of the Festivity of Our Lady of Health in Pátzcuaro. This emotional festivity takes place annually, when the faithful come to the Basilica in Pátzcuaro, and offer their prayers to Our Lady of Health.
As a preamble to
this festivity, from a month before the actual day of festivities (December 8)
we begin to see in the streets of Pátzcuaro the famous Mojigangas (20-foot-tall
“dolls”) dancing happily (men moving from the bases of the “dolls”) to
the sound of Michoacán music, giving a touch of joy to the streets of our
Magical Town.
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| Mojiganas in Patzcuaro, Michoacán |
Traditionally,
these huge creatures are seen on Sundays, so if you have the opportunity to
visit Pátzcuaro, in the month before the celebration of Our Lady of
Health of Health, you could probably chance upon them, at times dancing through
streets near downtown. Another place where you might find them is in the Plaza
Vasco de Quiroga, where the locals go to enjoy this tradition dating from
the 17th century.
On December 8,
parishioners from different regions of Mexico and abroad come to our basílica.
Our Lady of Health of Pátzcuaro is one of the most venerated and oldest
in all of Mexico.
The History of
Our Lady of Health is of interest to many of our guests at Hotel Mansion Iturbe,
being the most venerated religious images of Mexico that dates from the evangelization
in the sixteenth century.
The origins of Our Lady
of Health date back to around 1540, when Don Vasco de Quiroga, first
Bishop of Michoacán, ordered this virgin to be made using the technique used by
the indigenous to make the deities they worshipped, known as the technique of
corn cane paste.; so she is almost 600 years old!
Our Lady of
Health is also called Mary
Immaculate of Health of Pátzcuaro and in Purépecha "Nana
Yurhixe", whose meaning is Virgin Mother.
Basilic of our Lady of Health in Patzcuaro, Michoacan
December 8 begins
with the traditional mañanitas (birthday song) in the Basilica, with
masses throughout the day and pilgrimages that come to the religious site,
highlighting the mass in the indigenous language Purépecha.
The most exciting
element of celebration among parishioners during that day is when Our Lady
of Health is actually carried through the main streets of the historic
center of our Magical Town at dusk.
One of the most
emotional days of Pátzcuaro during the year is undoubtedly December 8.
Altar en honor of our Lady of Health at Hotel Mansion Iturbe in Patzcuaro 
Altar en honor of our Lady of Health at Hotel Mansion Iturbe in Patzcuaro
*Text, pictures and video property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to vist our blog, you will find different post with information about Patzcuaro and it's surroundings, that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Five places to relax and unwind near Pátzcuaro
Traditional Cuisine of Michoacan an Experience to Relish
Temple of la Compañía in Pátzcuaro
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Pátzcuaro, Mich.
México
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Tels: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342 3628
Fax: +52 (434) 342 3627
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