Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

Old and new basilicas where Mary is said to have appeared in Mexico City.

Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe Day

Public celebrations, or fiestas, are held in honor of Mary, the Virgin of Guadalupe, on December 12th. Catholics from across Mexico and other countries pay pilgrimage to see an image of Mary (Virgen Morena), believed to be authentic, in the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Children are dressed in traditional costumes and are blessed in churches. Thousands of people come to church to pray.

What’s Open or Closed?

Our Lady of Guadalupe Day is not a federal public holiday Mexico, but it is a religious festival, so many streets, roads, and transport providers are busy on December 12th. It is an optional holiday for some workers and a holiday for banks and other financial sector organizations. People intending on traveling via public transport in Mexico should check with public transit authorities on any timetable or route changes.

About Our Lady of Guadalupe Day

It is believed that a man named Juan Diego encountered the Virgin Mary twice in Mexico City, on December 9th and December 12th in 1531. According to the legend, Mary told Juan to ask the bishop to build a church on Tepeyac Hill. However, the bishop needed proof of Juan’s encounter and asked for a miracle. Juan returned to the hill to see roses in a spot where there were previously cacti. When Juan Diego returned, he showed the roses to the archbishop and also revealed an image on his cloak of the Lady of Guadalupe. The bishop was convinced of the miracle and built a church in honor of the event.