Editor’s Note This book uses the term Mexican folklore to refer to narratives from the wide variety of cultures rooted in the land we now call Mexico These narratives are drawn from diverse indigenous European and mixed origins The word folklore is an imperfect term as it can imply that the stories are not true This book aims to share these tales with the utmost respect to their original roots and to those who hold them sacred today Barefoot Books would like to thank Claudia Guadalupe Martinez for her invaluable input on this revised edition To the people of Mexico who have proudly and generously shared their vibrant culture with me M-J G Throughout time for my Matthew and Sky M C G
Our Lady of Guadalupe The legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe began long ago in the year 1531 One day just as dawn was breaking a humble man named Juan Diego left his home to go to church He was named Cuauhtlatoatzin when he was born but had taken the name Juan Diego recently after the Spanish invaded his town He was just learning to be a Christian and it still felt a little new to him Before the invasion the indigenous people had their own religion and worshipped many powerful gods and goddesses But the Spanish forbade them to observe their religion and destroyed all their temples Thus when Juan Diego knelt in church and felt a little strange he always added a special prayer of his own Please he begged we are strangers to you We are just learning this faith Help us to find our way On that December morning as usual Juan Diego passed the barren hill of Tepeyac on which nothing grew except wiry shrubs and prickly cacti Scattered all around were the stones that had once formed the Temple of Tonantzin Mother of Corn and Mother of Earth As he crossed the most deserted area on the side of the hill he was startled to hear beautiful music drifting towards him the hills and valleys echoing every note
Our Lady of Guadalupe 4 Is this a dream Am I walking in my sleep Our ancestors spoke of a land in heaven filled with flowers and music Am I there Juan Diego wondered He crossed himself for he had learned to do this and the singing became suddenly quieter Then he heard a voice calling him Juan Diego He shook with fear but he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other and climb the hill When he reached the top he was amazed Stretching across the top of Tepeyac was an arc of light radiating every shade of the rainbow The light shone from a woman with brown skin and hair like the women in his village but dressed in flowing robes Her face was framed by a shawl woven of golden threads And the brilliance of the light surrounding her even pierced the rock she stood on so that it glowed like fire
