Virgen de Guadalupe
‘La Virgen de Guadalupe’ at The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Shutterstock/Noradoa

On December 12, Latinos, especially Mexicans, gather in every corner of the world to honor Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Celebrations begin a few days before in some Latin American countries, but the live transmission of “Las Mañanitas a La Virgen de Guadalupe” begins before midnight on December 11, at the Basílica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where artists and singers join the millions of pilgrims who offer their prayers and songs, to venerate the Spiritual Mother of Mexicans.

The day of Our Lady of Guadalupe kicks off the holiday festivities, which end on January 6 with Los Reyes Magos.

This year, the celebrations will honor the victims of the recent natural disasters that occurred in Mexico during the second half of this year: hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. It will be a call for the union and peace that usually characterize Mexicans.

The guest artists that are joining the celebrations in 2017 are Carlos Rivera, Aída Cuevas, Lucero, Guadalupe Pineda, Marco Antonio Solís "El Buki," María Victoria, Daniela Romo, Olivia Gorra, Lila Downs, Grupo "Tribu," José Luis Duval, Fernando de la Mora, Bárbara Padilla, "La Voz Kids" contestants Eduardo Barba, Mariana Najera, Leslie Mar and Deylan Yubeili, and "La Rosa de Guadalupe" kids: Marco León, Regina Vallejo, and Rodrigo Brand. The Mariachi Gama Mil will also be there performing under the direction of Maestro Eduardo Magallanes.

The celebration's live broadcast will also highlight the general environment of the Basilica, dances, singing, and the arrival of the pilgrims that travel to Mexico City to pay respects to La Virgencita on December 11 and 12. This year, about 7 million visitors are expected.

After the musical part of the program is over, the traditional "Mañanitas" will be sung, and right after there will be a solemn mass, presided by the Venerable Cabildo de Guadalupe, headed by Mons. Enrique Glennie Graue, Rector of the Shrine and Vicar Episcopal of Guadalupe. The Infant Choir of the Basilica will sing, under the direction of Mtro. Fernando Mejía.

You can watch the broadcast live on Univision, Telemundo and Televisa (Las Estrellas) at 11:10 p.m. Mexico time on December 11, 12:30 a.m. Eastern time on December 12.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.