The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND OF THE VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE

THE MEXICAN FAMILY WITH WHOM I STAYED TOLD ME THIS
STORY OF HOW DEVOTION TO THE VIRGIN DE GUADALUPE
CAME ABOUT:
AN INDIAN WALKING ALONG IN SEARCH OF THE LAST RITES
FOR A DYING UNCLE, MEETS A BEAUTIFUL CHILD, DRESSED
LIKE AN INDIAN MAIDEN. THIS CHILD MADE THE INDIAN
GATHER ROSES AND IT WAS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER! THE
INDIAN GATHERED THESE ROSES AND PLACED THEM IN HIS
"PONCHO." ON RETURNING TO HIS VILLAGE, THE INDIAN
OPENED HIS "PONCHO" TO SHOW THE ROSES AND INSTEAD OF
ROSES, THERE APPEARED, PAINTED ON HIS "PONCHO" THE
IMAGE OF A DARK-SKINNED VIRGIN WHO STOOD UPON THE
MOON.

Submitter comment: I MADE THIS ENTRY JAN. 30, 1967. I SPENT THE SUMMER
OF 1965 IN A SMALL MEXICAN VILLAGE HEUTZU
AND HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY OF OBSERVING THE PEOPLE AND OF
PARTICIPATING IN THEIR ACTIVITIES.

Where learned: MEXICO

Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER