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December 2001 | ||||||
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As
December 18th approaches...La Virgen de la Soledad:
Patron Saint of Oaxacans for more than Three Hundred Years
Light, song and happiness tinge the catholic hearts of the Oaxacan people when December 18th gets nearer. On this day, one pays homage to the Santísima Virgen de la Soledad, who, for more than 300 years, has been venerated as the Patron Saint of Oaxacans, since her arrival according to tradition, by divine power. It was December 17th, 1620 when a group of muleteers, coming from Veracruz and going to Guatemala, were transporting merchandise on muleback. Getting nearer to the town of Oaxaca at nightfall and tired after a hard day, they decided to camp in Oovhana (today Etla), on the river-bank of the Atoyac. At dawn, the next day and after singing the hymn "Alabado", the herdsmen continued their journey. After a good distance, one of the muleteers noticed within the herd a mule that was not theirs as it had one box on top, whereas the others were all carrying two boxes sideways. This caused great tumult amongst the men and they began to look for its owners, which proved to be useless. The owner of the herd chose to continue on their path to see the mayor of Oaxaca in order to tell him about the mule and to ask his advice. Passing the hermitage of San Sebastián, the strange mule fell down. The herdsmen tried to put it back on its feet but to no use. Desperate, they took off its cargo and the mule got up, took some steps and fell down, dead. This upset the muleteers as now they would not only be charged with stealing the mule but also with killing it so they went to see the mayor. Accompanied by a clerk and three or four officeholders, the mayor had the mysterious box opened. In its interior, they found the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ, representing his glorious resurrection, on the pedestal it read: " Jesús en su resurrección". Next to this figure, they found a beautiful face and fine hands and the following inscription: "María Santísima de la Soledad al pie de la cruz" which amazed all bystanders. The mayor chose to call for Bishop D. Fray Juan Bartolomé de Bohórquez e Hinojosa to verify the facts. The Bishop, on attending such an extraordinary event, had the hands and face of the Virgin sent to the Hermitage of San Sebastián where it would be revered and the image of the Christ of Redemption was sent to the Hermitage of the Santa Veracruz. Because of this amazing case, "María Santísima" took possession of Oaxaca and was declared, before the Independence of Mexico, by the Bishop as the Patron Saint of Oaxacans. Her image was dressed with the flag and staff of authority, establishing December 18th as the formal day on which to celebrate this exquisite event. By decree of Pope Pius X the Virgin was crowned Patron Saint of the "Oaxaqueños" in January of 1909. Nowadays, the Virgin of la Santísima Soledad, is in a fine glass case on Corinthian columns, sustained in an entablature which in its turn supports the dome adorned by gold rays. The image is considered to be one of the most precious in America as its crown only, possessed two kilos of pure gold and six hundred diamonds besides its rich vestments of gold and silver thread. Her pale face of profound expression, her fine and delicate hands and her deep eyes will always be imprinted in the hearts of Oaxacans as the Virgin represents for them a symbol of great admiration and benevolence. Year after year, she is remembered and rejoiced in a big feast and popular celebration in which all Oaxacan believers accompany her. Thanks to Impressiones de Mi Gente, July 2001 - available in Oaxaca Hotel Azucenas Calle M. Aranda
#203 (antes Union) esq. Matamoros (1 cuadra de la Basilica La Soledad)
Centro Historico Oaxaca, OAX. Mexico |
COCINA OAXAQUENA Chocolate Mayordomo Corner of Calle Mina and Calle 20 de Noviembre, across from the central Market 20 de Noviembre "In this oaxacan shop, the recipe for hot chocolate is up to you… Inside the shop, the corners (are) filled with burlap sacks of cocoa beans from the southern state of Tabasco, and the shelves (hold) packaged blocks of shop-made chocolate and jars of mole negro, a spicy, savory sauce that counts chocolate as one of its ingredients…" * Customers line up with slips of paper and pass them on to the young woman behind the counter who weighs out the components of sweet Mexican drinking chocolate: almonds, cinnamon bark, sugar and cacao. Further along the ingredients are poured into an industrial grinder, mixed with sugar and fed through the mill again, and then bagged. Or you can buy blocks of ready-made chocolate, in a variety of blends. Or jars or bags of spicy mole to make into sauces * from Saveur magazine, Sept./Oct. 2001, pg.15 EVENTS LATE
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