Our Lady of Guadalupe
12 December is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and Mexican people wherever they live. Our Lady is Mary, but she is also a pastiche of many native deities, and she came to humans through, not a rich and powerful white man, but a brown-skinned peasant named Juan Diego. The miracle of her appearance to one who needed hope, the flowers that bloomed at her touch despite the season, the image of the gentle but powerful mestizo mother of god — her story resonates and inspires all of us.
Tomie dePaola created one of the most touching and most beautiful narratives of Our Lady’s story: The Lady of Guadalupe (Holiday House, 1980), the perfect bedtime story for today.
Tomie also created a story about the poinsettia, a flower that has become associated with the Lady of Guadalupe. This “weed” — a rather large mountain spurge — sets gorgeous red “blooms” around Midwinter. What we call a flower is actually the top leaves of the plant. When these terminal leaves are exposed to at least 14 hours of darkness every day for about six weeks, they turn colors just like autumn leaves on trees (sadly, they then also fall off, just like deciduous tree leaves). Most of the potted poinsettias you see for sale everywhere in December are forced to bloom in controlled settings. But natural blooming can only take place in the middle of winter. It seems like a miracle when all the tall green weeds put out blazing red stars for Navidad. Tomie’s story, The Legend of the Poinsettia (Puffin Books, 1997), perfectly captures the wonder and magic. A year or so ago, I found a YouTube channel, Tu e Yo, dedicated to reading together. They did a video of Tomie’s book that is bound to make you smile. I think Tomie would have loved it also. And I am sure the Lady has given it her blessing!
©Elizabeth Anker 2025
By My Solitary Hearth 