By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
The steady beating of powerful drums resonated Dec. 11, inside of the Plant City Stadium, as Matlachines dancers hopped from foot to foot, opening the procession of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration.
Boom.
Grasping maracas in their hands, they rattled them ferociously.
Boom.
Their feathered headdresses blew in the wind.
Boom.
Glitter designs in the shape of the sacred heart and the cross on their traditional red garb sparkled in the night.
Throughout Mexico and the United States, the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe takes place on the same nights. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic icon of Mary. In the 1500s, peasant Juan Diego saw a vision of Mary in Tepeyac, in Mexico. Her face was imprinted mysteriously on a robe when the archbishop asked for proof of her existence.
Since 2007, St. Clement Catholic Church has hosted a celebration in honor of the holiday. In the first year, more than 5,000 people attended the first day. During the three-day celebration, which featured rides, food, vendors, dances, local bands and Mass, 10,000 came through.
This year, the celebration was more religious, because the holiday fell in the middle of the week. But there still were plenty of rides, games and food outside the stadium, including a funhouse, ferris wheel, spinning tea cups and bumper cars. Red and green flags representing Mexico zigzagged over vendors, who sat in the hallway of the stadium, selling beaded rosaries, trinkets and clothing.
The celebration took place from 6 p.m. Dec. 11, to 6 a.m. Dec. 12, instead of the usual three-day vigil.
“What we are trying to do here for the Hispanic community and the people in the surrounding areas is to celebrate our faith and culture,” said Anselma Fernandez, who coordinated the event for St. Clement. “Some cannot go back to Mexico, so we put together our celebration. It’s for anybody — especially Catholics. It’s part of our religion, faith and culture.”
Throughout the year, the church raises funds for the event through dances, drawings and collections. They also ask members to be “padrinos,” or sponsors.
“In our culture, it is an honor to be a sponsor for the celebration,” Fernandez said.
Dancers kicked off the event at 6 p.m. followed by an offering of homemade bread to Mary. At 7 p.m., there was a parade of flags, more dancing and recognition of a member of the church that has exemplified exceptional volunteer service.
The youth performed folklore dances and put on a play about the vision of the blessed lady, the chorus sang traditional songs, and Mariachis played for Mary.
The stadium fell silent from all the activity for a traditional Mass at midnight. Families gathered in quiet reverence to pay respect to Mary. From 2 to 5 a.m., migrant workers, children and families prayed to the Lady of Guadalupe for favors in exchange for promises.
“This is an enrichment, especially to young people so they can learn the culture and be proud of their culture,” Fernandez said. “It’s educational for the community, too, because it’s a way of learning about our culture.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.