The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a title for Mary that came from an apparition that took place in present-day Mexico. She appeared to Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531, requesting a church be built. Her image miraculously appeared on his cloak, now enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image symbolizes unity between indigenous and Spanish cultures. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful symbol of faith and cultural convergence in Mexico and globally.
Below are two creative ways to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Photo by Hannah Hoggatt
Embroider a Constellation Prayer Table Cover
The forty-six stars on Mary’s mantle are in the exact layout of the night sky over the place she appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico on December 12, 1531.
Supplies needed:
- Download the Constellation template here
- Teal or blue Fabric
- Embroidery Hoop
- Gold Embroidery Thread
- Embroidery Needle
- Paper
- Sewing Needles
Instructions:
- Secure the template on the fabric with pins. Place the fabric on the inner hoop, then place the outer hoop on top. Tighten the screw, gently tugging the edges of the fabric if needed, until the fabric is stable and taut.
- To embroider, cut a piece of embroidery thread the length of your arm. Tie a knot a few inches from one end, then pull 4–6 inches of the other end through the needle. From the underside of the hoop, insert the needle into the start of a constellation and pull through until the knot catches on the fabric. Put the needle down at the end of the line, and pull. Make little stars over the dots by crisscrossing three or four lines over the dots, as shown in the photos at right.
- Repeat the sewing steps until you’ve completed the constellation. You can remove the template paper as you go along.
The fabric can be used on your prayer table or hung on the wall.
Decorate with roses
When Mary appeared to Juan Diego and asked him to gather roses on the top of a hill, they were not in season. When he reached the hill top, roses were miraculously blooming everywhere. She then instructed him to put the roses in his cloak and take them to the local bishop to prove the apparition. When he dropped the roses at the bishop's feet, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on his tilma.
Decorate with roses to brighten your home during this wintry Advent season, as a way to remember the hope Our Lady of Guadalupe brings to all people through her Son.
However you celebrate, be sure to snap, post and tag us on Instagram @beaheartdesign so we can feature on our page!
Photo by Hannah Hoggatt
Looking for inspiration on how to celebrate the liturgical seasons and feast days?
Living The Seasons: Simple Ways To Celebrate The Beauty Of Your Faith Throughout The Year is a full-color guide to creatively celebrate our faith. Each page is filled with beautiful inspiration with effortless directions to celebrate feast days, holy days and seasons within the Church. This will be your resource for living liturgically! Now available to order on our website.
