December 12th
marks the day in 1531 when the virgin's picture appeared on a cloak that belonged to Juan Diego. one morning on his way to mass, he saw her on a hilltop and she asked him to go tell the bishop to build her a house. the bishop refused and the next day she sent him back a second time. this time the bishop told Juan Diego that if he could bring a sign to him, he would fullfil his request. so he told the virgin, and she picked some flowers from the hilltop (even though it was Decamber and too cold for flowers). she put them in his cloak and told him to take them to the bishop. when he took the flowers to the bishop, her image appeared on his cloak. so the bishop built her house, and now every december 12th is the day dedicated to her. usually there's mass for her and alot of matechines (indians dancing for her and praying) at the mass. my town is 75 percent hispanic, so this is a very special holiday. : )
