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La Sagrada Familia celebrates La Virgen de Guadalupe
By Arooj Ashraf, Special to La Prensa
Cleveland, Dec. 9, 2006: Vibrant colors, energetic music, therapeutic incenses, and traditional Aztec dances marked the celebration of la Virgen de Guadalupe, Sta. María, at La Sagrada Familia church in Cleveland.
Nearly 300 devotees packed the church and outer halls for afternoon Mass, to hear the story of the “Lady from Heaven,” who appeared to a humble, indigenous Mexican, Juan Diego, in 1531, to request a church be built in her honor as the mother of the savior, Jesús Christ. See: www.mexconnect.com
La Sagrada Familia was built ten years ago and has celebrated the annual festival ever since.
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Zulma Campos
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This year’s performers included: the Ballet Folkloric Tepehuani Nelli (True Conqueror), performing two traditional Aztec dances in tribute to Sta. María. They wore elegant and elaborate costumes—Dante Rodríguez wore a green and yellow costume with the emblem of the Mexican flag and intricate head dress of eagle and peacock feathers. The women wore white dresses, lined with yellow, red, green, black, pink and blue ribbons, and adorned with mirrors. They wore rattle seed anklets, symbolizing the rattle snake.
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Lilly Corona Moreno directs the group. She said dancing was the only form of Aztec worship that was not forbidden by the Spaniards, but was used as a tool to convert the natives to Christianity.
La Mariachi del Joya provided music for prayers, staying behind to entertain the guests after Mass.
Photos by Arooj Ashraf.
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