The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, also called The Assumption or the Heavenly Birthday, is the moment when the Virgin Mary was fetched into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. Many faithful take this wonderful event as a promise made by Jesus that all Catholics will also be welcomed into paradise.
Each year on August 15th, Mexican Catholics come together to observe the important Día de la Asunción (Assumption Day). As such a blessed figure to all Catholics, Maria’s heavenly birthday is celebrated across the globe, with a beautiful array of different traditions in each country.
Here in Mexico, the day is celebrated with special altares (altars) in family homes, with an image or statue of the Virgin Mary lovingly placed in the heart of the piece. The Virgin is surrounded by beautiful arrangements of freshly picked flowers, often in reds, yellows, and whites, and highlighted by special small candles.
Across the country, dedicated masses and blessings are held in cathedrals and churches, and children from 1 to 100 look forward to the day’s processions. Making their way through streets thronged with faithful admirers, Día de la Asunción processions are led by young girls from the local community dressed in beautiful, simple gowns of different colours. The girls wear lightly-colored veils over their heads and faces, ornate silver crowns, and hold their hands before them in prayer. Behind them follow younger girls, awaiting their turn to lead the procession in a few years, and floats decorated in celebration of Maria’s heavenly birthday. Central to each parade is the Virgin’s float, which usually features a wonderfully ornate, larger-than-life statue of the Virgin smiling benevolently in front of a large wooden archway, which is covered in beautifully vivid flower arrangements.
For visitors to Mexico, our rich mix of tribal and Latino cultures means that the parade isn’t just about the Virgin’s assumption; it’s also an unmissable opportunity to experience traditional tribal garments, unique cultures preserved for hundreds of years through immeasurable change, and (of course!) some delicious culinary delicacies. Churches across the country hold almost continuous services on August 15th, with lots of them featuring dance, music and entertainment for children.
In some regions of our diverse nation, a statue of Mary is laid to rest on August 13th, as though sleeping peacefully, on a table at the family home. She is adorned by apples with a paper flower in the color white, blue or pink – and visitors may also notice women wearing apple earrings around this time of year. This quietly beautiful arrangement is the center around which the family gathers to recite the rosary and receive Maria’s blessing.
So special is Mexico’s relationship with the Virgin Mary that the grand cathedral in Mexico City – Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos (the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heavens) – is devoted to her honor. Every year on August 15th, the cathedral is thronged with worshippers paying their joyful respects to the Holy Mother of God.
Throughout the whole of our beautiful country, churches and cathedrals welcome the faithful from every corner of creation to join them in observance of the Virgin Mary’s Assumption, and, here at Tours Peregrinos Mexico, we invite you to come and experience this wonderful occasion in Mexico for yourself.