If you are in the Yucatán or other parts of Mexico on December 12th or a few days before, you are likely to come across the "
Virgin of Guadalupe torch runners." You will find the torch runners along the highways, streets and even country lanes. Who are torch runners? The torch runners are people that run a relay race event in honor of, or to keep a promise made to, the Virgin of Guadalupe - the patron saint of Mexico.
As you drive the roads of Mexico, you will find all kinds of trucks (from 3-ton trucks to pick-ups) filled with people and an altar with a statue or image of the virgin, balloons, palm fronds and flowers. Each group is made up of anywhere from five to fifty people. One at a time, for a period of some twenty minutes, someone runs along the road with a lit torch. Then the next person gets out of the truck and receives the torch and continues running. The majority of the runners are from church groups who plan their own routes - routes that are different for each group. Whatever route is chosen, the runners get to the furthest point, usually via public transportation, and then run back to
Mérida, planning their arrival to coincide with a Mass on December 12th, the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some runners run for just a few miles and take just one day, such as from Progreso to
Mérida. Others go as far as Mexico City and take a good ten days to do the run.
You will definitely see the runners on the
Mérida to
Progreso highway, plus on the roads around
Chichen Itza,
Uxmal and
Izamal as well as other towns and villages that have churches. When the runners arrive at the church on December 12th, there are fireworks, mariachis, processions and Mass. This is a very festive, party-like time. Since they do run throughout the night, do keep this in mind and be careful. Sometimes the trucks break down or the torches go out, so it is hard to see the runners. But they are there! And when you hear the pilgrims singing this song as they walk along, listen for the words:
Desde el cielo una hermosa mañana Desde el cielo una hermosa mañana La Guadalupana, la Guadalupana La Guadalupana bajó al Tepeyac. Suplicante juntaba sus manos Suplicante juntaba sus manos Y eran mexicanos, y eran mexicanos Y eran mexicanos su porte y su faz. Su llegada llenó de alegría Su llegada llenó de alegría De luz y armonía, de luz y armonía De luz y armonía todo el Anahuac. Junto al monte pasaba Juan Diego Junto al monte pasaba Juan Diego Y acercose luego, y acercose luego Y acercose luego al oír cantar. Juan Dieguito la Virgen le dijo Juan Dieguito la Virgen le dijo Este cerro elijo, este cerro elijo Este cerro elijo para hacer mi altar.
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Photography by Yucatán Today for its use in Yucatán Today.Author: Yucatán Today
Yucatán Today, la compañera del viajero, es un medio bilingüe de información turística sobre destinos, cultura y el qué hacer en Yucatán con 36 años de trayectoria.
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